Methods and apparatus for selectively processing eggs having identified characteristics

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus for processing eggs based upon a characteristic such as gender are provided. Material is extracted from each of a plurality of live eggs, the extracted material is assayed to identify eggs having the characteristic, and then eggs identified as having the characteristic are processed accordingly.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/284,267 filed Apr. 17, 2001, the disclosure of whichis incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if set forthfully herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to eggs and, moreparticularly, to methods and apparatus for processing eggs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Discrimination between poultry eggs (hereinafter “eggs”) on thebasis of some observable quality is a well-known and long-used practicein the poultry industry. “Candling” is a common name for one suchtechnique, a term which has its roots in the original practice ofinspecting an egg using the light from a candle. Although egg shellsappear opaque under most lighting conditions, eggs are actually somewhattranslucent. Accordingly, when placed in front of a light, the contentsof an egg can be observed.

[0004] In poultry hatcheries, one purpose of candling eggs is toidentify and then segregate live eggs (i.e., eggs which are to behatched to live poultry) from non-live eggs (e.g., clear eggs, deadeggs, rotted eggs, empty eggs, etc.). U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,955,728 and4,914,672, both to Hebrank, describe a candling apparatus that usesinfrared detectors and the infrared radiation emitted from an egg toidentify live eggs. U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,652 to van Asselt et al.describes a candling apparatus in which a plurality of light sources andcorresponding light detectors are mounted in an array, and wherein eggsare passed between the light sources and the light detectors to identifylive eggs.

[0005] Once identified, live avian eggs may be treated with medications,nutrients, hormones and/or other beneficial substances while the embryosare still in the egg (i.e., in ovo). In ovo injections of varioussubstances into avian eggs have been employed to decrease post-hatchmorbidity and mortality rates, increase the potential growth rates oreventual size of the resulting bird, and even to influence the genderdetermination of the embryo. Injection of vaccines into live eggs havebeen effectively employed to immunize birds in ovo. It is furtherdesirable in the poultry industry to manipulate an embryo in ovo tointroduce foreign nucleic acid molecules (i.e., to create a transgenicbird) or to introduce foreign cells (i.e., to create a chimeric bird)into the developing embryo.

[0006] In ovo injection of a virus may be utilized to propagate theparticular virus for use in preparation of vaccines. Examples ofsubstances that have been used for, or proposed for, in ovo injectioninclude vaccines, antibiotics and vitamins. Examples of in ovo treatmentsubstances and methods of in ovo injection are described in U.S. Pat.No. 4,458,630 to Sharma et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,421 toFredericksen et al.

[0007] Improved methods of injecting eggs containing an embryo may beused to remove samples from eggs, including embryonic andextra-embryonic materials. Further, for other applications it may bedesirable to insert a sensing device inside an egg containing an embryoto collect information therefrom, for example, as described in U.S. Pat.No. 6,244,214 to Hebrank, which is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

[0008] In commercial hatcheries, eggs typically are held in settingflats during incubation. At a selected time, typically on the eighteenthday of incubation, the eggs are removed from an incubator. Unfit eggs(namely, dead eggs, rotted eggs, empties, and clear eggs) are identifiedand removed, live eggs are treated (e.g., inoculated) and thentransferred to hatching baskets.

[0009] In hatchery management, it may be desirable to separate birdsbased upon various characteristics, such as gender, diseases, genetictraits, etc. For example, it may be desirable to inoculate male birdswith a particular vaccine and inoculate female birds with a differentvaccine. Sex separation of birds at hatch may be important for otherreasons as well. For example, turkeys are conventionally segregated bysex because of the difference in growth rate and nutritionalrequirements of male and female turkeys. In the layer or table eggindustry, it is desirable to keep only females. In the broiler industry,it is desirable to segregate birds based on sex to gain feedefficiencies, improve processing uniformity, and reduce productioncosts.

[0010] Unfortunately, conventional methods of sexing birds may beexpensive, labor intensive, time consuming, and typically requiretrained persons with specialized skills. Conventional methods of sexingbirds include feather sexing, vent sexing, and DNA or blood sexing.About three-thousand (3,000) chicks can be feather-sexed per hour at acost of about 0.7 to 2.5 cents per chick. About fifteen hundred (1,500)chicks can be vent-sexed per hour at a cost of about 3.6 to 4.8 centsper chick. DNA or blood sexing is performed by analyzing a small sampleof blood collected from a bird.

[0011] It would be desirable to identify the sex of birds, as well asother characteristics of birds, prior to hatching. Pre-hatch sexidentification could reduce costs significantly for various members ofthe poultry industry. Although conventional candling techniques candiscriminate somewhat effectively between live and non-live eggs, theseconventional candling techniques may not be able to reliably determinegender and other characteristics of unhatched birds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In view of the above discussion, embodiments of the presentinvention provide methods of processing eggs having an identifiedcharacteristic (e.g., gender) wherein material (e.g., allantoic fluid,amnion, yolk, shell, albumen, tissue, membrane and/or blood, etc.) isextracted from each of a plurality of live eggs, the extracted materialis assayed to identify eggs having a characteristic, and then eggsidentified as having the characteristic are processed accordingly. Forexample, a method of processing eggs based upon gender, according toembodiments of the present invention, includes identifying live eggsamong a plurality of eggs, extracting allantoic fluid from the eggsidentified as live eggs, detecting a presence of an estrogenic compoundin the allantoic fluid extracted from each live egg to identify a genderof each live egg, detecting a color change of the allantoic fluid toidentify the gender of each egg, and then selectively injecting avaccine into the live eggs according to gender.

[0013] According to embodiments of the present invention, extractingallantoic fluid from the eggs includes positioning each of the live eggsin a generally horizontal orientation whereby an allantois of each eggis caused to pool and enlarge an allantoic sac under an upper portion ofeach egg shell, inserting a probe (e.g., a needle) into each egg throughthe shell of the egg and directly into the enlarged allantoic sac, andwithdrawing a sample of allantoic fluid from the allantois of each eggvia each probe. According to embodiments of the present invention,detecting a presence of an estrogenic compound in the allantoic fluidincludes dispensing allantoic fluid extracted from the live eggs intorespective receptacles, and dispensing a biosensor into the receptacles,wherein the biosensor is configured to chemically react with anestrogenic compound in the allantoic fluid and change a color of theallantoic fluid.

[0014] According to embodiments of the present invention, selectivelyinjecting a vaccine into the live eggs according to gender includesinjecting a first vaccine into live eggs identified as male, andinjecting a second vaccine into live eggs identified as female.Alternatively, selectively injecting a vaccine into the live eggsaccording to gender includes injecting a vaccine into live eggsidentified as having the same gender.

[0015] According to other embodiments of the present invention, materialextracted from eggs may be assayed to identify one or more pathogenswithin each egg. Eggs identified as having one or more pathogens aresubsequently removed from the remaining live eggs.

[0016] According to other embodiments of the present invention, geneticanalyses may be performed on material extracted from eggs.

[0017] According to embodiments of the present invention, an automatedgender sorting system is provided and includes three independent moduleslinked via a network. The first module is an allantoic fluid samplingmodule. Flats of eggs are removed from a setting incubator, typically onDay 15, 16, or 17 of a 21-Day incubation cycle, and fed onto a conveyorbelt. An optical-based sensor automatically identifies live eggs and theeggs (either only live eggs or all eggs) are transferred into an arrayof egg cradles. Each egg cradle is configured to reposition a respectiveegg onto its side and to center the egg. A needle is then inserted intoeach egg to a depth of about five to six millimeters (5-6 mm) into aboutthe midpoint of an egg, and allantoic fluid (e.g., about 20 pl) iswithdrawn. The fluid sample from each egg is deposited into a respectivewell in a bar-coded assay template. The wells in the template may bearranged in the same array as the array of the egg flat, according toembodiments of the present invention. Each sampling needle is sanitizedbefore being used to sample material from another egg.

[0018] The eggs are repositioned via the cradles to upright positionsand then returned to a bar-coded egg flat. The flats are then typicallyreturned to a setting incubator. The assay templates containing thesampled material (e.g., allantoic fluid) from the eggs are stacked forprocessing, and a data processor on the network matches the barcodes ofeach egg flat and assay template.

[0019] The second module is an automated assaying module. An operatorloads a plurality of assay templates containing sampled material (e.g.,allantoic fluid) from eggs into the assaying module. Within the assayingmodule, each assay template is moved via a conveyor system beneath adispensing head which dispenses a predetermined amount (e.g., about 75μl) of reagent (e.g., a LiveSensors™ brand cell-based biosensor,LifeSensors, Inc., Malvern, Pa.) into each respective well. Each assaytemplate then progresses through an environmentally-controlled chamberfor a predetermined period of time (e.g., about 3.5 hours). Each assaytemplate is moved via a conveyor system beneath another dispensing headwhich dispenses a predetermined amount of a color substrate (e.g.,ONPG-based substrate) into each well. Each assay template thenprogresses through an environmentally-controlled chamber for apredetermined period of time (e.g., about 45 minutes) to allow colordevelopment within each well.

[0020] A CCD (charge-coupled device) camera then scans each well todetermine the gender of a respective egg whose sample material is in thewell. This information is stored via a data processor on the network.According to embodiments of the present invention, the reagent (e.g., aLiveSensors™ brand cell-based biosensor) within each well is thendestroyed (e.g., via heat and/or via chemical treatment) prior todisposal of each assay template.

[0021] The third module is an egg treatment and sorting module.According to embodiments of the present invention, the bar-coded eggflats are removed from the setting incubator towards the end of the21-Day incubation cycle (e.g., Day 18 or 19, etc.) and placed on aconveyor system. According to embodiments of the present invention, adata processor on the network identifies which eggs are male and whicheggs are female based on information previously stored. The male eggsare then vaccinated with a male-specific vaccination and the female eggsare vaccinated with a female-specific vaccination. According toembodiments of the present invention, separate vaccination devices maybe utilized for male and female eggs. Once vaccinated, the eggs aresorted by gender and transferred to gender-specific hatching baskets.The hatching baskets are then transferred to hatching incubators.According to embodiments of the present invention, eggs of one gendercan be discarded and not vaccinated or transferred into hatchingbaskets.

[0022] According to embodiments of the present invention, eggs areseparated by gender (or other characteristic) first and then processed.For example, eggs may be sorted by gender and then the male and femaleeggs are processed separately.

[0023] According to embodiments of the present invention, estrogeniccompounds present in the allantoic fluid of female embryos, but not maleembryos, are detected. Avian embryos can be gender sorted on the basisof the presence of estrogenic compounds in the allantoic fluid of femaleembryos between days thirteen and eighteen (13-18) of incubation, inbroiler, broiler breeder, turkey, and layer embryos, and regardless offlock age or strain.

[0024] Embodiments of the present invention can facilitate increasedproduction efficiencies by contributing to savings in incubation space(e.g., not hatching chicks identified as males pre-hatch), bycontributing to savings in vaccinations, by allowing reduction in manuallabor, and by increasing hatchery processing speeds. For example,throughput rates of between about twenty thousand and thirty thousand(20,000-30,000) eggs per hour can be gender sorted and vaccinated viaembodiments of the present invention, and with an accuracy rateexceeding ninety-eight percent (98%). Because the gender of eggs areknown prior to vaccination, savings in vaccination costs can be realizedparticularly when it is desirable to vaccinate only a specific gender.In addition, embodiments of the present invention can be easy tooperate, even by unskilled workers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025]FIG. 1 is a flowchart of operations for processing eggs, accordingto embodiments of the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 2 is a flowchart of operations for identifying live eggs fromamong a plurality of eggs, according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

[0027]FIG. 3 is a flowchart of operations for candling eggs, accordingto embodiments of the present invention.

[0028]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of operations for spectral candling of eggs,according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0029]FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary spectra for three eggs subjected tothe spectral candling operations of FIG. 4.

[0030]FIG. 6 is a flowchart of operations for light and thermal candlingof eggs, according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0031]FIG. 7 is a flowchart of operations for extracting material fromeggs, according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0032]FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of an egg in a tiltedorientation and illustrating the pooling of the allantois under theupper shell of the egg.

[0033]FIG. 9 is a flowchart of operations for assaying extracted eggmaterial to identify a characteristic of eggs, according to embodimentsof the present invention.

[0034] FIGS. 10A-10B are flowcharts of operations for selectivelyprocessing eggs based on identified characteristics, according toembodiments of the present invention.

[0035]FIG. 11 is a block diagram of systems and methods for processingeggs, according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0036]FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of top-level controlsarchitecture for an egg processing system according to embodiments ofthe present invention within a hatchery wherein individual PLCs areutilized to control a material extraction station, an assaying station,and treatment and sorting stations, respectively.

[0037] FIGS. 13A-13D are more detailed illustrations of a top-levelcontrols architecture for an egg processing system according toembodiments of the present invention within a hatchery whereinindividual PLCs are utilized to control a material extraction station(sampling module), an assaying module, and transfer module,respectively.

[0038]FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of an apparatus for extractingmaterial (also referred to as a sampling module) from a plurality ofeggs, according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0039]FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the apparatus for extractingmaterial of FIG. 14 illustrating the transfer apparatus and two samplingapparatus on opposite sides of the transfer apparatus.

[0040]FIG. 16 is a plan view of the egg flat conveyor systems and eggcradles of the material extraction apparatus of FIG. 14 taken alonglines 16-16.

[0041]FIG. 17 is a side elevation view of the material extractionapparatus of FIG. 14 illustrating lateral movement of the egg transferapparatus between the two egg flat conveyor systems and the egg cradles.

[0042]FIG. 18A illustrates the loading of incoming egg flats onto theincoming egg flat conveyor system and the loading of empty egg flatsonto the outgoing egg flat conveyor system. FIG. 18A also illustrates anincoming egg flat positioned within the candling area of the materialextraction apparatus of FIG. 14.

[0043]FIG. 18B illustrates movement of incoming egg flats along theincoming egg flat conveyor system to the picker area where the eggtransfer apparatus transfers eggs from incoming egg flats to the eggcradles.

[0044]FIG. 18C illustrates a plurality of eggs seated within theplurality of egg cradles after being transferred from an incoming eggflat by the egg transfer apparatus.

[0045]FIG. 18D illustrates movement of the egg cradles to a locationwhere a sampling apparatus is configured to extract material from theeggs positioned within the egg cradles.

[0046]FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a portion of an array of eggcradles configured to receive eggs in a generally vertical orientationand to cause the eggs to move to a generally horizontal orientation,according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0047]FIG. 20 is an enlarged perspective view of a cradle in the arrayof FIG. 19.

[0048]FIG. 21 is a top plan view of the egg cradle of FIG. 20 takenalong lines 21-21.

[0049]FIG. 22 is a side elevation view of the egg cradle of FIG. 20taken along lines 22-22.

[0050]FIG. 23 is a side view of an egg positioning apparatus, accordingto alternative embodiments of the present invention, and wherein an eggis in a generally horizontal position therein.

[0051]FIG. 24 illustrates the egg positioning apparatus of FIG. 23,wherein the egg is being urged to a generally vertical orientation by anorientation member.

[0052]FIG. 25 is a partial top plan view of the egg positioningapparatus of FIG. 23 taken along lines 25-25 and illustrating theinclined upper ends of the first and second portions.

[0053]FIG. 26 is a partial end view of the egg positioning apparatus ofFIG. 25 taken along lines 26-26.

[0054]FIG. 27 is a top plan view of a lifting head of the egg transferapparatus of FIG. 14 illustrating an array of manifold blocks and vacuumcups, wherein the array is in an expanded configuration.

[0055]FIG. 28 is a top plan view of the lifting head of FIG. 27, andwherein the array of manifold blocks and vacuum cups is contracted alonga first direction.

[0056]FIG. 29 is a side elevation view of the lifting head of FIG. 27taken along lines 29-29.

[0057]FIG. 30 is an enlarged side view of one of the flexible cups ofthe lifting head of FIG. 27 that is configured to transfer a respectiveegg according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0058]FIG. 31 is a side view of a sample head for extracting materialfrom an egg, according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0059]FIG. 32 is a side section view of an egg cradle within theillustrated array of FIG. 19 with an egg positioned therewithin in agenerally horizontal position, and illustrating a sample head incontacting relationship with the egg.

[0060]FIG. 33 is a side view of a plurality of sample heads for one ofthe four sampling apparatus in FIG. 14 wherein each sample head is incontact with the shell of an egg within a respective egg cradle prior toextracting material from the egg, and wherein a sample needle withineach sample head is in a retracted position.

[0061]FIG. 34 illustrates the sample heads of FIG. 33 wherein the sampleneedles are in a first extended position and have pierced the shell ofeach respective egg and are in position to extract material from eachrespective egg.

[0062]FIG. 35 illustrates the sample heads of FIG. 33 wherein the sampleneedles are in a second extended position for dispensing materialextracted from respective eggs into respective sample receptacles in anassay template.

[0063]FIG. 36A illustrates one of the sample heads of FIG. 33 with abiasing member illustrated in phantom line.

[0064]FIG. 36B illustrates the sample head of FIG. 36A wherein thebiasing force of air in the lower half of the sample head cylinder hasbeen overcome such that the sample needle is in a first extendedposition and has pierced the shell of the egg and is in position toextract material from the egg.

[0065]FIG. 36C illustrates the sample head of FIG. 36B wherein thebiasing force of the biasing member has been overcome such that thesample needle is in the second extended position and is configured todispense material extracted from the egg into a sample receptacle andthen be sanitized.

[0066]FIG. 36D illustrates an exemplary sanitizing fountain that may beutilized to sterilize a respective sample needle, in accordance withembodiments of the present invention.

[0067]FIG. 37 is a plan view of the array of sample heads of FIG. 33taken along lines 37-37 and illustrating locking plates according toembodiments of the present invention that are configured to maintaineach sample head in a vertically-locked position relative to arespective egg as material is extracted from the egg.

[0068]FIG. 38A is a plan view of the locking plates of FIG. 37 accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

[0069]FIG. 38B is a plan view of locking plates according to analternative embodiment of the present invention.

[0070]FIG. 39A is a side view of a sample head from the array of FIG. 33illustrating the locking plate in a non-engaged position relative to thesample head.

[0071]FIG. 39B illustrates the sample head of FIG. 39A wherein thelocking plate is being moved to the right and has engaged the samplehead to force the sample head against two stationary plates.

[0072]FIG. 39C illustrates the sample head of FIG. 39A wherein thelocking plate has secured the sample head against the two stationaryplates such that vertical movement of the sample head is restrained.

[0073]FIG. 40 is a plan view of a sample tray having a plurality ofsample receptacles configured to receive material extracted from eggsaccording to embodiments of the present invention.

[0074]FIG. 41 is an enlarged partial plan view of the sample tray ofFIG. 40 illustrating material extracted from eggs dispensed withinrespective sample receptacles of the sample tray.

[0075] FIGS. 42A-42B are top plan views of the sample tray handlingsystem according to embodiments of the present invention andillustrating sample trays being moved relative to the sampling apparatusof FIG. 14.

[0076] FIGS. 43-44 are block diagrams of systems and methods forassaying material extracted from a plurality of eggs in order toidentify eggs having one or more characteristics, according toembodiments of the present invention.

[0077]FIG. 45 is a plan view of a portion of a sample tray wherein eggmaterial in each receptacle has been assayed to reveal a visibleindication of a characteristic of a respective egg.

[0078]FIG. 46 is side elevation view of an assaying apparatus forassaying material extracted from eggs contained within a plurality ofsample trays, according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0079]FIG. 47 is side elevation view of a sorting apparatus according toembodiments of the present invention.

[0080]FIG. 48 is a top plan view of the sorting apparatus of FIG. 47taken along lines 48-48.

[0081]FIG. 49 is a top plan view of a backfill and injection apparatusto be used in conjunction with the sorting apparatus of FIG. 47according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0082]FIG. 50 is a top plan view of a backfill apparatus to be used inconjunction with the sorting apparatus of FIG. 47 and with a processingapparatus according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0083]FIG. 51 is a side elevation view of the backfill apparatus of FIG.50.

[0084]FIG. 52 is a perspective view of a treatment and sorting stationaccording to other embodiments of the present invention.

[0085]FIG. 53 is a plan view of the egg flat conveyor systems and eggcradles of the material extraction apparatus of FIG. 14 taken alonglines 16-16 that includes an assaying apparatus for assaying materialextracted from a plurality of eggs according to embodiments of thepresent invention.

[0086]FIG. 54 is block diagram of the assaying apparatus of FIG. 53.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0087] The present invention now is described more fully hereinafterwith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferredembodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limitedto the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and willfully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in thedescription of the invention herein is for the purpose of describingparticular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of theinvention.

[0088] As used in the description of the invention and the appendedclaims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to includethe plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise.

[0089] All publications, patent applications, patents, and otherreferences mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

[0090] The terms “bird” and “avian” as used herein, include males orfemales of any avian species, but are primarily intended to encompasspoultry which are commercially raised for eggs or meat. Accordingly, theterms “bird” and “avian” are particularly intended to encompasschickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, quail and pheasant. The term “in ovo, ”as used herein, refers to birds contained within an egg prior to hatch.The present invention may be practiced with any type of bird egg,including, but not limited to, chicken, turkey, duck, goose, quail, andpheasant eggs.

[0091] As used herein, the terms “injection” and “injecting” encompassmethods of inserting a device (typically an elongate device) into an eggor embryo, including methods of delivering or discharging a substanceinto an egg or embryo, methods of removing a substance (i.e., a sample)from an egg or embryo, and/or methods of inserting a detector deviceinto an egg or embryo.

[0092] As used herein, the term “allantoic fluid” encompasses allantoicfluid with or without the presence of other egg materials. For example,the term allantoic fluid may include a mixture of blood and allantoicfluid.

[0093] As used herein, the term “predetermined location” indicates afixed position or depth within an egg. For example, a device may beinjected into an egg to a fixed depth and/or fixed position in the egg.In alternative embodiments, the injection may be carried out based oninformation obtained from the egg, e.g., regarding the position of theembryo or the subgerminal cavity within the egg.

[0094] Methods and apparatus according to embodiments of the presentinvention may be utilized for identifying one or more characteristics ofan egg at any time during the embryonic development period (alsoreferred to as the incubation period) thereof. Embodiments of thepresent invention are not limited to a particular day during theembryonic development period.

[0095] Referring now to FIG. 1, methods of processing live eggs basedupon identified characteristics, according to embodiments of the presentinvention, are illustrated. Initially, live eggs are identified among aplurality of eggs undergoing incubation (Block 1000). For example, theeggs are candled to identify which eggs are live eggs. Material isextracted from each live egg (Block 2000) and the extracted material isassayed to identify one or more characteristics (e.g., gender, pathogencontent, genetic markers related to bird health or performance,nutritional, endocrine or immune indicators or factors, etc.) of therespective egg (Block 3000). The live eggs are then selectivelyprocessed based upon the identified one or more characteristics (Block4000). Each of these operations are described in detail below.

[0096] Referring to FIG. 2, identifying live eggs among a plurality ofeggs (Block 1000) may involve various techniques including, but notlimited to, conventional candling (Block 1100), spectral candling (Block1200), and the combination of light and thermal candling (Block 1300).Embodiments of the present invention may utilize any method ofdetermining whether an egg contains a live embryo, and are not limitedto only the methods described herein.

[0097] Referring to FIG. 3, conventional candling techniques includemeasuring the opacity of an egg to visible light, infrared light, and/orother electromagnetic radiation (Block 1110), and then identifying liveeggs using measured opacity values (Block 1120). Exemplary candlingmethods and apparatus are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,955,728 and4,914,672, both to Hebrank, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,652 to van Asselt etal., which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.Conventional egg candling techniques are well understood by those ofskill in the art and need not be described further herein.

[0098] Referring to FIG. 4, spectral candling (Block 1200) includesilluminating an egg with light in both visible and infrared wavelengths(Block 1210) and then receiving light passing through the egg at adetector positioned adjacent the egg (Block 1220). For example, an eggmay be illuminated with light at wavelengths of between about threehundred nanometers and about eleven hundred nanometers (300 nm - 1,100nm). Intensity of the received light is determined at selected visibleand infrared wavelengths for the egg (Block 1230) and a spectrum isgenerated that represents light intensity at the visible and infraredwavelengths (Block 1240). The spectrum generated for the egg is thencompared with a spectrum associated with a live egg to identify whetherthe egg is a live egg (Block 1250).

[0099]FIG. 5 illustrates three spectra for three respective eggs candledvia spectral candling techniques. Wavelength in nanometers (nm) isplotted along the X axis, and light intensity counts are plotted alongthe Y axis. Spectrum 2 is associated with a clear egg. Spectrum 3 isassociated with an early dead egg. Spectrum 4 is associated with a liveegg. Spectral candling is described in co-assigned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/742,167, filed on Dec. 20, 2000, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0100] Referring to FIG. 6, light and thermal candling (Block 1300)includes measuring the opacity of an egg (Block 1310), measuring thetemperature of the egg (Block 1320), and using the measured opacity andtemperature values to identify whether the egg is a live egg (Block1330). Light and thermal candling is described in co-assigned U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/563,218, filed May 2, 2000, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0101] Referring to FIG. 7, operations for extracting material from liveeggs (Block 2000), according to embodiments of the present invention,will now be described. A plurality of live eggs are positioned in agenerally horizontal orientation such that the allantois of each egg iscaused to pool within an allantoic sac under an upper portion of eachegg shell (Block 2100). The term “generally horizontal orientation” asused herein means that an egg is positioned such that a long axisthereof is oriented at an angle between about ten degrees (10°) andabout one-hundred eighty degrees (180°) from vertical, wherein zerodegrees (0°) vertical is defined by a large end of the egg in avertically upward position. A probe (e.g., a needle, etc.) is insertedinto each egg through the shell of the egg and directly into theallantoic sac under the upper portion of the egg shell (Block 2200).FIG. 8 illustrates the pooling of the allantois 16 in an egg 1 under theupper side of the egg as a consequence of non-vertical orientation ofthe egg (e.g., the long axis A is oriented between about 10° and about180°).

[0102] As is known to those of skill in the art, during the final stagesof incubation, the allantois normally exists as a relatively thin layerunder the inner shell membrane of an egg, and essentially surrounds theembryo therein. In later stage (third and fourth quarter) embryonatedeggs, the allantois can be a difficult target to insert a needle orprobe into with accuracy. According to embodiments of the presentinvention, eggs are oriented generally horizontally such that theallantois can be reliably targeted in ovo. By repositioning eggs to agenerally horizontal orientation, accessibility of the allantois isenhanced. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,199 to Gore et al., andU.S. Pat. No. 5,699,751 to Phelps et al., which are incorporated hereinby reference in their entireties.

[0103] As is understood by those of skill in the art, the size of theallantois is related to the stage of embryonic development of the egg tobe injected; thus the depth of insertion needed to reach the allantoismay vary depending on the developmental stage of the egg as well as thespecies and strain of avian egg used. The depth of insertion should bedeep enough to place the sampling device within the allantois, but notso deep as to pierce the amnion or embryo. According to embodiments ofthe present invention, use of a blunt-tip needle may help minimizepiercing of the amnion or embryo.

[0104] The precise location and angle of insertion of a sampling devicewithin an egg is a matter of choice and could be in any area of an egg.Orientation of a sampling device will depend on the orientation of theegg, the equipment available to carry out the material extraction, aswell as the purpose of the material extraction.

[0105] Embodiments of the present invention are not limited toextracting material from the allantois or from areas near the uppersurface of an egg. Removal of material from the allantois as describedherein is provided as merely one example of possible embodiments of thepresent invention. Embodiments of the present invention are not limitedonly to the extraction of allantoic fluid. Various materials (e.g.,amnion, yolk, shell, albumen, tissue, membrane and/or blood, etc.) maybe extracted from an egg and assayed to identify one or morecharacteristics, as described below. Moreover, it is not required thateggs be reoriented into a generally horizontal position prior toextracting material therefrom. Material may be extracted from eggshaving virtually any orientation.

[0106] Referring back to FIG. 7, a sample of allantoic fluid iswithdrawn from the allantois of each egg (Block 2300). The eggs are thenreoriented to a generally vertical position for easier handling (Block2400) and are moved to another location for subsequent processing (Block2500).

[0107] Referring to FIG. 9, operations for assaying material extractedfrom each live egg to determine one or more characteristics of the egg,such as gender (Block 3000), according to embodiments of the presentinvention, will now be described. Material, such as allantoic fluid, isextracted from each egg is dispensed into respective sample receptaclesin a template (Block 3100). A biosensor, which is configured tochemically react with egg material and produce detectable signals (e.g.,electromagnetic signals, luminescence signals, fluorescence signals,conductivity signals, colormetric signals, pH signals, etc.), isdispensed into the respective sample receptacles (Block 3200). A colorsubstrate (e.g., ONPG-based substrate) that is configured to change acolor of the material in response to a chemical reaction between the eggmaterial and the biosensor may be added to each respective receptacle(Block 3300).

[0108] The presence of a characteristic of an egg is then detected(Block 3400). For example, a change in color may indicate thatestrogenic compounds are present in allantoic fluid within a respectivesample receptacle, thereby indicating the gender of a respective eggfrom which the allantoic fluid was sampled from. Operations representedby Block 3400 are intended to include detection of electromagneticsignals produced within the sample receptacles which provide anindication of the presence of a characteristic of an egg. According toother embodiments of the present invention, operations represented byBlock 3400 are intended to include detection of pathogens in eggmaterial.

[0109] One or more additional analyses may be performed on the eggmaterial in the sample receptacles (Block 3500). For example, geneticanalysis may be performed on the material.

[0110] Referring to FIGS. 10A-10B, operations for selectively processinglive eggs based upon identified characteristics (Block 4000), accordingto embodiments of the present invention, will now be described. One ormore substances may be injected in ovo based upon identifiedcharacteristics of each egg (Block 4100). For example, a vaccine may beinjected into eggs according to gender of the eggs. Moreover, a firstvaccine may be injected into eggs identified as male, and a secondvaccine may be injected into eggs identified as female. In addition, thelive eggs may be sorted according to identified characteristics (Block4200). For example, if the identified characteristic is gender, maleeggs may be segregated from female eggs.

[0111] Sorting may occur before, after, or in lieu of in ovo injectionor other treatment or processing. As illustrated in FIG. 10B, theoperations of Block 4100 and 4200 of FIG. 10A can be reversed. Forexample, eggs may be sorted by gender first and then injected with oneor more substances based on gender (e.g., males can be inoculated with asubstance and females can be inoculated with a different substanceand/or at different times).

[0112] Referring now to FIG. 11, an egg processing system 10 forprocessing eggs, according to embodiments of the present invention, isillustrated. The illustrated system includes a classifier 12 that isconfigured to identify live eggs from among a plurality of eggs 1 in anincoming egg flat 5. The classifier 12 is operatively connected to acontroller 20 which controls the classifier 12 and stores informationabout each egg 1 (e.g., whether an egg is live, clear, dead, rotted,etc.). As described above, the classifier 12 may include a conventionalcandling system, a spectral candling system, a candling system thatutilizes the combination of light and thermal candling, or any otherapparatus/technique for identifying live eggs (and/or dead eggs, cleareggs, rotted eggs, etc.). An operator interface (e.g., a display) 22 ispreferably provided to allow an operator to interact with the controller20.

[0113] A material extraction station (also referred to as a samplingmodule) 30, egg treatment station 40, and egg sorting station 50 areprovided downstream of the classifier 12 and are each operativelyconnected to the controller 20. An assaying station 60 is alsooperatively connected to the controller 20. The material extractionstation 30 is configured to extract material, such as allantoic fluid,from selected eggs. Material extracted from each egg is analyzed via theassaying station 60 to identify one or more characteristics of each eggor for diagnostic or other purposes. For example, the gender of each eggmay be identified by analyzing material extracted from an egg.Alternatively, the presence of pathogens may be detected, and/or variousgenetic analyses may be performed on the extracted material.

[0114] The treatment station 40 is configured to treat selected eggs forexample, by inoculation with a treatment substance (e.g., vaccines,nutrients, etc.). The treatment station 40 may include at least onereservoir 42 for holding a treatment substance to be injected intoselected eggs. The controller 20 generates a selective treatment signalfor an egg (or a group of eggs) based upon characteristics of an egg (ora group of eggs) identified via the assaying station 60. For example,eggs identified as female may be injected with a particular vaccine viathe treatment station 40 upon receiving a treatment signal from thecontroller 20.

[0115] The sorting station 50 is configured to sort eggs based uponidentified characteristics. The controller 20 generates a selectivesorting signal for an egg (or a group of eggs) based uponcharacteristics of an egg (or a group of eggs) identified via theassaying station 60. For example, eggs identified as male may be placedin a first hatching bin, and eggs identified as female may be placed ina second hatching bin.

[0116] The assaying station 60 is configured to perform various tests onmaterial extracted from eggs in order to identify one or morecharacteristics (e.g., gender) of each egg. Various tests may beperformed via the assaying station 60. The present invention is notlimited only to identifying the gender of eggs.

[0117] The controller 20 preferably includes a processor or othersuitable programmable or non-programmable circuitry including suitablesoftware. The controller 20 may also include such other devices asappropriate to control the material extraction station 30, egg treatmentstation 40, egg sorting station 50, and assaying station 60. Suitabledevices, circuitry and software for implementing a controller 20 will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoingand following descriptions and the disclosures of U.S. Patent No.5,745,228 to Hebrank et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,728 to Hebrank.

[0118] The operator interface 22 may be any suitable user interfacedevice and preferably includes a touch screen and/or keyboard. Theoperator interface 22 may allow a user to retrieve various informationfrom the controller 20, to set various parameters and/or toprogram/reprogram the controller 20. The operator interface 22 mayinclude other peripheral devices, for example, a printer and aconnection to a computer network.

[0119] According to alternative embodiments of the present invention,one or more of the stations described with respect to FIG. 11 may becontrolled by individual programmable logic controllers (PLCs). Data maybe transferred back and forth from a PLC to a central computer databasecontroller for storage. For example, a central database may be providedto store information such as gender (as well as other identifiedcharacteristics) of eggs being processed. The central computer databasecontroller is configured to respond to individual PLCs when they requestdata or send data. The central computer database need not directlycontrol the various stations under the control of respective PLCs.

[0120]FIG. 12 is a top-level controls architecture illustration of anembodiment of the present invention within a hatchery wherein individualPLCs are utilized to control various hatchery stations, according toembodiments of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, aplurality of PLCs 70 a, 70 b, 70 c control a material extraction station30, an assaying station 60, and treatment and sorting stations 40, 50,respectively. Each PLC 70 a, 70 b, 70 c is connected to a server 72 viaa local area network (LAN). The server 72 is in communication with adatabase (which can be local, remote, or a combination thereof) andstores/retrieves data to/from the database in response to requests fromthe individual PLCs 70 a, 70 b, 70 c. The server 72 is capable ofcommunicating with remote devices via a communications network, such asthe Internet 90.

[0121] In the illustrated embodiment, the LAN is a wireless LAN and thePLCs 70 a, 70 b, 70 c communicate with the server 72 via wireless LANworkgroup bridges 71 a, 71 b, 71 c. However, it is understood that anytype of LAN may be utilized, including wired LANs. For example, FIGS.13A-13D illustrate a wired LAN embodiment.

[0122] In the illustrated embodiment, PLC 70 a is configured to controla material extraction station 30 for extracting material from aplurality of eggs as described above. PLC 70 a is also configured tocontrol a live/dead detector subsystem 74 (e.g., a classifier 12, FIG.11), an X-Y table stepper controller 75 that controls the location of asample tray for receiving material extracted from eggs, an egg flatbarcode reader 77, and an assay sample tray barcode reader 78. Accordingto embodiments of the present invention, barcodes are utilized to trackeggs within a hatchery. As such, barcodes are placed on egg flats andare read during various times during processing within a hatchery. Otherembodiments include RFID (radio frequency identification) tags in lieuof barcodes and on-the-fly printed/applied identifiers either on the eggflats or on the eggs themselves. PLC 70 b is configured to control anassaying station 60 for identifying one or more characteristics of eachegg as described above. PLC 70 b is also configured to control an assayreader subsystem 80 (e.g., a CCD camera system that scans each samplereceptacle in an assay template to determine the gender of a respectiveegg whose sample material is in the receptacle), an assay reader steppercontroller 81, a substrate dispenser stepper controller 82, a yeastdispenser stepper controller 83, and an assay barcode reader 84.Moreover, PLC 70 b may be configured to control an assaying station 60that is directly connected to the material extraction station 30 or thatis a stand-alone apparatus.

[0123] PLC 70 c is configured to control a treatment station 40 and asorting station 50 as described above. In addition, PLC 70 c controls anegg flat barcode reader 85 that identifies egg flats passing through thetreatment and sorting stations 40, 50.

[0124] FIGS. 13A-13D are more detailed illustrations of a top-levelcontrols architecture for an egg processing system according toembodiments of the present invention within a hatchery whereinindividual PLCs are utilized to control a material extraction station(sampling module), an assaying module, and transfer module,respectively. The illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 13A-13D utilizes awired LAN embodiment wherein a system server (FIG. 13A) communicateswith (and controls) a sampling module (FIG. 13B), an assay module (FIG.13C), and a transfer module (FIG. 13D).

Material Extraction Station

[0125] Turning now to FIGS. 14-17, a material extraction station 30 forextracting material from a plurality of eggs, according to embodimentsof the present invention, is illustrated. The material extractionstation 30 includes a frame 100 with an incoming egg flat conveyorsystem 102 and an outgoing egg flat conveyor system 104 extending alongrespective, opposite sides 10Oa, 100 b of the frame 100, as illustratedin FIG. 16. The material extraction station 30 also includes aclassifier 12 (FIG. 16) that is configured to identify live eggs fromamong a plurality of eggs, an egg cradle table 110 movably mounted tothe frame 100, an egg transfer apparatus 130, a sample tray handlingsystem 150, four sets of sampling apparatus 160, and a sanitizer system(not shown) for sanitizing sampling portions of the apparatus.

[0126] The incoming egg flat conveyor system 102 is configured totransport incoming flats 5 of eggs 1 through the classifier 12 and tothe egg transfer apparatus 130. As will be described below, according toan embodiment of the present invention, live eggs are removed from theincoming egg flats 5. Non-live eggs remain within the incoming egg flats5 and are carried away by the incoming egg flat conveyor system 102 fordisposal or other processing. The outgoing egg flat conveyor system 104,according to an embodiment of the present invention, is configured totransport flats 7 of eggs that have had material extracted therefrom toan incubator for incubation, and/or to subsequent treatment and/orsorting stations.

[0127] Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to theremoval of live eggs only from an incoming egg flat 5. For example, alleggs may be removed from an incoming egg flat 5 and placed within anarray of egg cradles. Live eggs may be segregated from non-live eggs viathe sorting station 50 (FIG. 11). For example, only live eggs may betransferred to hatching baskets via the sorting station 50.

[0128] The incoming egg conveyor system 102 may utilize belts and/orother conveyor system components that allow light to pass through aportion thereof to facilitate candling at the classifier 12. Egg flatconveyor systems are well known to those skilled in the art and need notbe described further herein. Moreover, embodiments of the presentinvention are not limited to the illustrated orientation, configuration,and/or travel directions of the incoming and outgoing conveyor systems102, 104. Incoming and outgoing egg flats may travel in variousdirections relative to various apparatus of the present invention, andmay have various configurations and orientations.

[0129] Although eggs conventionally are carried in egg flats, any meansof conveying a plurality of eggs to the classifier 12 for identifyinglive eggs can be used. Eggs may pass one at a time through theclassifier 12 or the classifier 12 may be configured so that a number ofeggs (i.e., within a flat) can pass through the classifier 12simultaneously.

[0130] Incoming and outgoing egg flats 5, 7 of virtually any type may beused in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Flats maycontain any number of rows, such as seven rows of eggs, with rows of sixand seven being most common. Moreover, eggs in adjacent rows may beparallel to one another, as in a “rectangular” flat, or may be in astaggered relationship, as in an “offset” flat. Examples of suitablecommercial flats include, but are not limited to, the “CHICKMASTER 54”flat, the “JAMESWAY 42” flat and the “JAMESWAY 84” flat (in each case,the number indicates the number of eggs carried by the flat). Egg flatsare well known to those skilled in the art and need not be describedfurther herein.

[0131] In addition, the egg array configuration of incoming egg flats 5may be different from that of outgoing egg flats 7. The egg transferapparatus 130 is configured to adjust to different egg arrayconfigurations of different egg flats, as described below.

[0132] The illustrated egg cradle table 110 includes first, second andthird sets of cradles 112 arranged in adjacent respective first, second,and third arrays 113 a, 113 b, and 113 c. The illustrated egg cradletable 110 is slidably mounted to the frame 100 between the incoming andoutgoing conveyor systems 102, 104 and is movable relative to the eggtransfer apparatus 130 and each of the four illustrated samplingapparatus 160 along the direction indicated by arrows A₁. The egg cradletable 110 is configured to move such that when one cradle array (e.g.,113 a or 113 b or 113 c) is positioned beneath the egg transferapparatus 130, another cradle array (e.g., 113 a or 113 b or 113 c) ispositioned beneath one of the sampling apparatus 160, as will bedescribed in detail below.

[0133] Although illustrated with three cradle arrays 113 a, 113 b, 113 cand four sampling apparatus 160, an apparatus for extracting materialfrom eggs according to embodiments of the present invention may have oneor more arrays of cradles 112 and one or more sampling apparatus 160.For example, an apparatus for extracting material from eggs according toembodiments of the present invention may have a single array of cradles112 and a single sampling apparatus 160.

[0134] Referring now to FIG. 15, lifting head 132 of the illustratedtransfer apparatus 130 and two of the sampling apparatus 160 of FIG. 14on opposite sides of the transfer apparatus 130 are illustrated inenlarged detail. The illustrated lifting head 132 includes an expandableand collapsible array of manifold blocks and vacuum cups 137 that aresupported by a generally rectangular frame 138. The lifting head 132 isconfigured to lift a plurality of eggs from an array of cradles 112 andplace the eggs within outgoing egg flats 7.

[0135] The illustrated egg cradle table 110 includes a plurality ofelongated rods 118 that are simultaneously controlled by an actuatordevice 122 which moves the elongated rods 118 between retracted andextended positions (indicated by arrow A₂) within respective cradles 112to reposition eggs from horizontal to vertical positions, as will bedescribed below. Each sampling apparatus 160 includes an array ofsampling heads 162 that are configured to extract material from arespective egg positioned within an egg cradle 112. Each sampling headis configured for generally vertical movement (indicated by arrows A₃)relative to the egg cradle table 110, as will be described below.

[0136]FIG. 17 is a side elevation view of the material extractionapparatus of FIG. 14 illustrating the two lifting heads 132, 134 of theegg transfer apparatus 130. As illustrated, the lifting heads 132, 134are configured for lateral movement (indicated by arrows A₄) between theincoming and outgoing egg flat conveyor systems 102, 104 and the eggcradle table 110.

[0137] FIGS. 18A-18D illustrate the progression of eggs through thematerial extraction station 30. FIG. 18A illustrates the loading ofincoming egg flats 5 which contain a plurality of eggs 1 onto theincoming egg flat conveyor system 102, and the loading of empty eggflats 7 onto the outgoing egg flat conveyor system 104. FIG. 18A alsoillustrates an incoming egg flat 5 containing a plurality of eggs 1positioned within the candling area (i.e., beneath the classifier 12illustrated in FIG. 16) of the material extraction apparatus 30.

[0138]FIG. 18B illustrates movement of an incoming egg flat 5 along theincoming egg flat conveyor system from the candling area to the pickerarea. In the picker area, egg transfer head 134 is configured to pick upa plurality of the eggs 1 from an egg flat 5 and place the eggs 1 withinan array of cradles 112 on the slidable egg cradle table 110. An emptyoutgoing egg flat 7 is positioned adjacent the array of cradles 112.

[0139]FIG. 18C illustrates a plurality of eggs 1 seated within theplurality of egg cradles 112 after being transferred from an incomingegg flat 5. For ease of illustration, the eggs 1 are illustrated in agenerally vertical orientation within the egg cradles 112. However, aswill be described below, the eggs 1 are repositioned to a generallyhorizontal orientation by the egg cradles 112 prior to removing materialfrom the eggs 1. The egg cradles 112 are also configured to repositionthe eggs after material has been removed therefrom to a generallyvertical orientation prior to being transferred to an outgoing egg flat7.

[0140] The eggs 1′ from which material has been extracted aretransferred to an outgoing egg flat 7. An outgoing flat 7 into whicheggs just sampled may thereupon be placed in an incubator for incubationaccording to conventional procedures while awaiting results from theassaying station 60 (FIG. 11). When assaying results are completed, andcharacteristics of each egg identified (e.g., gender) the eggs may bemoved from the incubator to one or more treatments stations 40 (FIG. 11)and/or to a sorting station 50 (FIG. 11). According to embodiments ofthe present invention described below, an assaying station 60 may beconnected to the material extraction station 30 and may be configured toassay material extracted from eggs quickly. As such, flats of eggs fromwhich material has been extracted may be held in one or moreaccumulation modules instead of being returned to incubators prior tobeing transported to a treatment/sorting station(s).

[0141]FIG. 18D illustrates movement of the egg cradle table 110 in thedirection indicated by arrow A₁ to a location where the array of eggcradles 112 containing eggs 1 is positioned beneath one of the samplingapparatus 160 (FIG. 14).

[0142]FIG. 19 illustrates a portion of an exemplary array of cradles 112that can be included on the illustrated egg cradle table 110. Eachcradle 112 is configured to receive an egg in a generally verticalorientation and to cause the egg to move to a generally horizontal andcentered orientation.

[0143] An enlarged perspective view of a cradle 112 in the illustratedpartial array of FIG. 19 is illustrated in FIG. 20 and is representativeof each cradle in the partial array. The illustrated cradle 112 includesan inclined, arcuate surface 114 that defines a receptacle for receivingan egg. The illustrated arcuate surface 114 of the cradle 112 has aninclined upper portion 114 a, a lower portion (or floor) 114 b, andopposite side portions 115 a, 115 b.

[0144] The cradle arcuate surface 114 may have a generally concaveconfiguration between opposite side portions 115 a, 115 b. The generallyconcave configuration of the arcuate surface 114 helps maintain an eggin a generally centered position on the arcuate surface 114. The arcuatesurface upper portion 114a is configured to receive an end of avertically oriented egg and to cause the egg to slide to the arcuatesurface lower portion 114b such that the egg becomes positioned on thearcuate surface lower portion 114 b in a generally inclined orientation.

[0145] Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to theillustrated cradle 112 or to the illustrated configuration of thearcuate surface 114. The arcuate surface 114 of the cradle 112 may be asubstantially smooth, continuous arcuate surface. Alternatively, thearcuate surface 114 may include a plurality of flat, adjacent surfacesarranged so as to form a generally arcuate configuration. In addition,the cradle arcuate surface may have a generally flat configurationbetween opposite side portions 115 a, 115 b.

[0146] Egg cradles that are configured to receive an egg in a generallyvertical orientation, to cause the egg to move to a generally horizontalorientation, and to reorient the egg to a generally vertical orientationfor removal are described in detail in co-assigned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/835,990 entitled, Apparatus and Method forReorienting an Egg Between Vertical and Horizontal Orientations, whichis incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0147] Each illustrated cradle 112 also includes a pair of elongatedretaining arms 119 secured to the cradle 112 in spaced-apart relationalong the respective arcuate surface side portions 115 a, 115 b, asillustrated. Each of the illustrated elongated arms 119 has a respectiveend 119 a that is secured to the cradle 112 via fasteners 120 and anopposite free end 119 b. Fasteners 120 may be various known fasteningdevices including, but not limited to, threaded fasteners (e.g., screws,bolts, etc.) and unthreaded fasteners (e.g., rivets, tapered studs,untapered studs, etc.). Alternatively, retaining arms 119 may beadhesively secured to a cradle 112, or secured to a cradle 112 viawelding, brazing, soldering, or various other known methods.

[0148] The retaining arms 119 help to prevent an egg from rolling orfalling off of a cradle arcuate surface 114. Moreover, the retainingarms 119 help stabilize an egg that is being repositioned from agenerally horizontal position to a generally vertical position, asdescribed below. The retaining arms 119 are configured to flexoutwardly, as illustrated in FIG. 21, to accommodate large eggs, whileat the same time providing support for narrow eggs. In addition, theretaining arms 119 help to center an egg laterally on the cradle arcuatesurface 114 so that the long axis of the egg is aligned with the longaxis of the cradle while the egg is in a generally horizontal position.

[0149] Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to theillustrated retaining arms 119. Retaining arms may have variousconfigurations and may be attached to a cradle 112 in various locationsand configurations. Moreover, embodiments of the present invention maynot require retaining arms.

[0150] Each cradle 112 is secured to the cradle table 110 via fasteningdevices including, but not limited to, threaded fasteners (e.g., screws,bolts, etc.) and unthreaded fasteners (e.g., rivets, tapered studs,untapered studs, etc.). Alternatively, each cradle 112 may be adhesivelysecured to the cradle table 110, or secured to the cradle table 110 viawelding, brazing, soldering, or various other known methods. FIG. 22illustrates threaded passageways 121 in a cradle 112 that are configuredto threadingly engage respective threaded fastening members (not shown)for securing a cradle 112 to the cradle table 110 according toembodiments of the present invention.

[0151] A plurality of passageways 116 extend through each cradle 112 andterminate at respective apertures 117 in the arcuate surface 114 asillustrated. An elongated rod 118, which serves as an orientationmember, is configured for reciprocal movement between a retractedposition and an extended position within each passageway 116. In anextended position, the elongated rods 118 for each cradle 112 urge anegg horizontally positioned (or otherwise inclined relative to vertical)on the arcuate surface lower portion 114 b to a vertical orientation sothat the egg can be removed from the cradle 112 via the egg transferapparatus 130.

[0152] Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to theillustrated elongated rods 118 or to the orientation of the elongatedrods 118 with respect to each cradle 112. Orientation members may havevarious configurations and may be positioned within a cradle 112 forreciprocal movement between retracted and extended positions in variousways and in various orientations.

[0153] As illustrated in FIG. 15, the elongated rods 118 are arranged inan array and are simultaneously controlled by an actuator device 122which moves the elongated rods 118 between retracted and extendedpositions within respective cradles 112. When the array of rods 118 arein a retracted position, eggs within the cradles 112 have a generallyhorizontal orientation as described above. When the rods 118 are movedto an extended position, the rods extend upwardly through the cradles asdescribed above and cause the eggs to move to a generally verticalorientation. The actuator 122 for moving the rods 118 between retractedand extended positions may be operated pneumatically, hydraulically,magnetically, and/or electromechanical actuators may be utilized.

[0154] FIGS. 23-26 illustrate an egg cradle 212 that may be utilized inaccordance with other embodiments of the present invention and that isconfigured to reposition an egg from a vertically oriented position to ahorizontal position and then back to a vertically oriented position,according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Theillustrated cradle 212 has first and second portions 220 a, 220 b thatdefine a receptacle for receiving an egg. The illustrated first portion220 a has a pair of opposite, spaced-apart members 222, 224 withinclined upper ends 222 a, 224 a. Each inclined upper end 222 a, 224 ahas an inwardly sloping surface 226, 228. The illustrated second portion220 b has a pair of opposite, spaced-apart members 232, 234 withinclined upper ends 232 a, 234 a. Each inclined upper end 232 a, 234 ahas an inwardly sloping surface 236, 238.

[0155] The inclined upper ends 232 a, 234 a of the second portion 220 bare configured to receive an end of a vertically oriented egg and tocause the egg to slide downwardly such that the egg becomes positionedon the first and second portions 220 a, 220 b in a generally inclinedorientation. The configuration of the inclined upper ends 222 a, 224 a,232 a, 234 a of the first and second portions 220 a, 220 b help maintainan egg in a generally centered position in the cradle 212.

[0156] The second portion 220 b serves as an orientation member and isconfigured for reciprocal movement between a retracted position (FIG.23) and an extended position (FIG. 24). In an extended position, thesecond portion 220 b urges an egg horizontally positioned (or otherwiseinclined relative to vertical) within the cradle 212 to a verticalorientation.

[0157] As illustrated in FIG. 17, the egg transfer apparatus 130 of thematerial extraction station 30 of FIG. 14 includes first and second,adjacent lifting heads 132, 134 which operate in tandem. The firstlifting head 134 is configured to simultaneously lift a plurality ofgenerally vertically oriented eggs 1 from an incoming egg flat 5 on theincoming egg flat conveyor system 102 and place the plurality of eggs 1within a first array of cradles 112. Eggs are typically positionedwithin an incoming egg flat with the large end of the egg facing in agenerally upward direction. The first lifting head 134 can be controlledto pick up selected eggs 1 from an incoming egg flat 5. For example, thefirst lifting head 134 can be directed to only pick up live eggs, asidentified by the classifier 12.

[0158] The adjacent second lifting head 132 is configured tosimultaneously lift and remove a plurality of eggs 1 from a plurality ofcradles 112 on the egg cradle table 110 and place the eggs 1 within anoutgoing egg flat 7 on the outgoing egg flat conveyor system 104.

[0159] The eggs 1 are reoriented to a generally vertical orientation tofacilitate removal from the cradles 112. Eggs are typically placedwithin an outgoing egg flat 7 with the large end in a generally upwarddirection.

[0160] The illustrated egg cradle table 110 is slidably mounted to theframe 100, and is and movable relative to the first and second liftingheads 134, 132 such that the first, second, or third arrays 113 a, 113b, 113 c of egg cradles 112 can be positioned beneath the egg transferdevice 130 at any given time so that the lifting heads 132, 134 canplace/remove eggs within/from the cradles 112 as described above.

[0161] The slidable configuration of the egg cradle table 110 allows onearray of cradles to receive eggs from one of the lifting heads 132, 134while another array of cradles is positioned beneath a respectivesampling apparatus 160 such that material can be extracted from theeggs, as will be described below. The use of multiple arrays of eggcradles along with reciprocal motion of the egg cradle table facilitatesprocessing throughput.

[0162] Referring to FIGS. 27-29, each lifting head 132, 134 of theillustrated egg transfer apparatus 130 includes an expandable andcollapsible array of manifold blocks 136 and vacuum cups 137 that aresupported by a generally rectangular frame 138. The illustrated frame138 includes opposite side members 139 a, 139 b that extend along afirst direction L₁ and opposite end members 140 a, 140 b that extendalong a second direction L₂ that is substantially perpendicular to L₁.

[0163] Each manifold block 136 and vacuum cup 137 is supported from arespective cross rail 142 that extends between the side members 140 a,140 b, as illustrated. A middle one of the cross rails is fixed betweenthe side members 140 a, 140 b. The cross rails 142 on either side of thefixed middle cross rail are slidably supported by the frame 138 and areconfigured to move along the second direction L₂. Adjacent cross rails142 are connected via a pair of restraining members 143.

[0164] Actuator members 144 a, 144 b are connected to rails 142 asillustrated and are used to collapse and expand the array of manifoldblocks 136 and vacuum cups 137 along the second direction L₂. Each ofthe actuator members 144 a, 144 b are controlled by an actuator device145 which is in communication with a controller (e.g., PLC 70 a of FIG.12). The actuator 145 may be operated pneumatically, hydraulically,magnetically, and/or electromechanical actuators may be utilized.

[0165]FIG. 27 illustrates the array of manifold blocks 136 and vacuumcups 137 in an expanded configuration and FIG. 28 illustrates the arrayof manifold blocks 136 and vacuum cups 137 in a contractedconfiguration. In FIG. 28, the restraining members 143 are not shown forclarity. The expandable and contractible nature of the array of manifoldblocks 136 and vacuum cups 137 for each lifting head 132, 134 allows aplurality (or “clutch”) of eggs to be lifted from, and inserted into,egg flat and egg cradle arrays of different sizes and configurations.

[0166] According to embodiments of the present invention, the array ofmanifold blocks 136 and vacuum cups 137 may be expandable andcontractible in two directions. For example, a particular style ofincoming egg flat may allow one inch (1″) between adjacent eggs on arow, and one inch (1″) between adjacent rows. An array of egg cradles112 in the egg cradle table 110 may have a different configuration. Forexample, an array of egg cradles may allow only one-half inch (0.5″)between adjacent eggs on a row, and one and one-half inches (1.5″)between adjacent rows. Similarly, an outgoing egg flat may have adifferent array configuration from an egg cradle array configuration. Anarray that is expandable and contractible in two directions canaccommodate such differences in egg flat and cradle arrays.

[0167] The array configuration of each lifting head 132, 134 isadjustable via a controller, such as a central controller (PLC) or adedicated controller (PLC) (e.g., PLC 70 a of FIG. 12) so that eggs canbe transferred among egg flats and cradles having different sizes and/orarray configurations. Each lifting head 132, 134 is also preferablyeasily removable as a unit to facilitate cleaning.

[0168] Referring now to FIG. 30, each manifold block 136 includes an endportion 136 a and an internal passageway 144 that terminates at a nozzle149 extending from the end portion 136 a. The internal passageway 144 ofeach manifold block 136 is in fluid communication with a vacuum source(not shown) and an air source via respective vacuum and air linesconnected to respective fittings on top of each manifold block 136, aswould be understood to those skilled in the art. Preferably, eachmanifold block 136 and vacuum cup 137 is in fluid communication with aseparate vacuum supply to allow for selective transfer of eggs.

[0169] A flexible vacuum cup 137 is secured to each respective manifoldblock nozzle 149. Each flexible vacuum cup 137 is configured to engageand retain an egg in seated relation therewith when vacuum is providedwithin the flexible cup 137 via a respective internal passageway 144 andto release a respective egg when vacuum within the respective internalpassageway 144 is destroyed. Air from an air source may be providedwithin the internal passageway 144 to facilitate removal of eggs fromthe flexible vacuum cup 137.

[0170] Lifting heads 132, 134 of the egg transfer apparatus 130 mayutilize various suction-type lifting devices. Moreover, any suitablemeans for transferring eggs from a flat to an array of egg cradles, andfrom the array of egg cradles to a flat, may be utilized in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention.

[0171] Each sampling apparatus 160 of the material extraction apparatus30 of FIG. 14 includes an array or set 161 of sample heads 162. Eachsample head 162 is configured to extract material from an egg anddeposit the extracted material within a respective sample receptacle 152in a sample tray 150 (FIG. 40). Each sampling apparatus 160 in theillustrated embodiment of FIG. 14 are fixed and the cradle table 110moves relative thereto as described above. Accordingly, when a set ofcradles 112 containing eggs 1 is positioned beneath a sampling apparatus160, each sample head 162 is configured to extract material from arespective egg 1 and then deposit the extracted material into arespective sample receptacle 152 of a sample tray 150.

[0172] Referring to FIG. 31, each sample head 162 according to theillustrated embodiment, includes an elongated housing 163 havingopposite first and second ends 163 a, 163 b and an elongated passageway(guide) 164 that extends therebetween. An elongated needle 165 isdisposed within the elongated passageway 164 and is movable between aretracted position and first and second extended positions. The tip 166of the needle 165 is contained within the passageway 164 when the needle165 is in the retracted position, and the tip 166 of the needle 165extends from the housing first end 163a when the needle 165 is in thefirst and second extended positions. The needle 165, when in the firstextended position, is configured to punch through the shell of an eggand extract material (e.g., allantoic fluid) from the egg. The needle165, when in the second extended position, is configured to deliverextracted egg material into a respective sample receptacle of a sampletray, as will be described below.

[0173] The needle 165 may be a hypodermic needle having an eggshellpiercing tip configuration. According to embodiments of the presentinvention, a needle tip 166 may have a beveled or blunt configuration tofacilitate punching through an egg shell. According to embodiments ofthe present invention, a needle 165 may have an aperture formed in aside portion thereof in lieu of the tip 166 to help prevent blockage ofthe needle lumen caused by punching through an egg shell. Sampling headneedles 165 according to embodiments of the present invention areparticularly adapted to withdraw allantoic fluid from eggs.

[0174] As is known to those skilled in the art, allantoic fluid is anexcretory medium for the nitrogenous metabolites of an avian embryo.Allantoic fluid begins to form around Day 5 of incubation. It attains amaximum volume on about Day 13 of incubation and then wanes in volume asincubation continues dues to moisture loss and fluid resorbtion, but isstill present in significant volumes on Day 18 of incubation.

[0175] Allantoic fluid is separated from the eggshell by the inner andouter shell membranes and the chorioallantoic membranes. Although theallantoic fluid encompasses the entire periphery of an embryonated egg,the allantoic fluid accumulates at the top of an egg directly underneaththe membranes overlying the air cell. The accumulation of the allantoicfluid at the top of the egg is due to gravity and displacement by thedense embryo and yolk sac. Attempting to accurately sample the allantoicfluid through the top of an egg while the egg is upright may bedifficult due to the variability of the air space from egg to egg.Gravity can be used to pool the allantoic fluid in a localized site.When an egg is turned on its longitudinal axis, the allantoic fluid willpool at the top side of the egg, directly underneath the shell. Layingthe egg on its longitudinal axis renders the allantoic fluid an easiertarget to access.

[0176] The extraction of material, such as allantoic fluid, from eggsmay be performed in various ways according to embodiments of the presentinvention. For example, if only live eggs are initially placed withinthe cradles 112 of the egg cradle table 110, all eggs will be sampled.However, if non-live eggs are also placed within the cradles 112 of theegg cradle table 110, only the live eggs will be sampled. Alternatively,the shell of all eggs, including non-live eggs, may be punched, butmaterial only sampled from live eggs. According to alternativeembodiments, each sample head 162 may comprise a biosensor or otherdevice designed to analyze egg material (e.g., allantoic fluid) in situ.As will be described below, according to other embodiments of thepresent invention, egg material extraction and assaying of extractedmaterial may be performed by the same sampling apparatus

[0177] Each sample head 162 of the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 31also includes an alignment member 168. The illustrated alignment member168 includes a body portion 169 that is movably secured to the samplehead housing first end 163 a. Two pair of opposed wheels 170 a, 170 bare mounted to opposite end portions 171 a, 171 b of the body portion169.

[0178] As illustrated in FIG. 32, an egg 1 is held in position within acradle 112 by the alignment member 168 when a sample head 162 is broughtinto contact with an egg within a cradle 112. The alignment member 168adjusts the egg position and centers it within the cradle 112. In theillustrated embodiment, opposing wheels 170 a, 170 b are in contact withthe egg shell along with the sample head housing first end 163 a.

[0179] Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to theillustrated configuration of the sample head of FIG. 31. For example, asample head may have an alignment member without the pair of opposedwheels 170 a, 170 b. Moreover, embodiments of the present invention mayutilize alignment members having various shapes, sizes andconfigurations.

[0180] Sample head operations are illustrated in FIGS. 33-35. FIG. 33 isa side view of a plurality of sample heads 162 for one of the fourillustrated sampling apparatus 160 in FIG. 14. Each sample head is incontact with the shell of an egg 1 within a respective egg cradle 112prior to extracting material from the egg 1, and a sample needle 165within each sample head is in a retracted position. In addition, anactuator 180 is illustrated moving arm 182 via actuator piston 181 froma first position to a second position, as indicated by arrow A₅. Arm 182is linked to sampling head locking plates 185 that are movablysandwiched between stationary plates 186 and 187. As will be describedbelow, locking plates 185 are configured to maintain each sample head162 in a vertically-locked position relative to a respective egg 1within a cradle 112 as material is extracted from the egg 1.

[0181] In FIG. 34, arm 182 has moved to the second position such thatthe locking plates 185 are spread apart to the locked position so as torestrain vertical movement of the sample heads 162. The sample needles165 have been extended to a first extended position and have pierced theshell of each respective egg. In the first position the sample needles165 are in position to extract material (e.g., allantoic fluid) fromeach respective egg.

[0182] In FIG. 35, the arm 182 has moved back to the first position suchthat the locking plates 185 do not restrain vertical movement of thesample heads 162. The sample needles 165 have been extended to a secondextended position and are in position to dispense material extractedfrom respective eggs into respective sample receptacles 152 in a sampletemplate 150. The second extended position provides adequate clearancebeyond the sample head 162 and/or alignment member 168 so that theneedles 165 can reach the sample receptacles 152 in a sample tray 150and so that the needles 165 can reach sanitation nozzles or otherapparatus that deliver sanitizing fluid to the needles 165.

[0183] Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to sampleheads wherein needles have first and second extended positions.According to alternative embodiments, a needle may move from a retractedposition to only one extended position for extracting material fromeggs. For dispensing extracted material into a sample receptacle, asample tray may be moved upwardly to the needle. Similarly, a sanitizingnozzle or other apparatus may move upwardly to the needle.

[0184] Movement of a sample needle 165 within a sample head 162 isillustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 36A-36C. Each sample head 162includes a biasing member (e.g., a spring) 190, as illustrated in FIG.36A. Movement of each sample needle 165 from a retracted position toboth the first and second extended positions is facilitated by airpressure (or other fluid pressure) that is provided from a compressedair source (or other fluid source). To move the sample needle 165 fromthe retracted position to the first extended position (FIG. 36B), air(or other fluid) pressure is supplied at a level sufficient (e.g., 28psi) to overcome the biasing force of air in the lower half of thesample head 162, but not sufficient to overcome the combined biasingforces of air in the lower half of the sample head and the biasingmember 190. To move the sample needle 165 from the retracted position tothe second extended position (FIG. 36C), air (or other fluid) pressureis supplied via one or more fittings (not shown) on the sample head 162at a level sufficient (e.g., 75 psi) to overcome the combined biasingforces of the air in the lower half of the sample head and the biasingmember 190.

[0185] In the illustrated embodiment, the biasing member 190 isconfigured to urge the sample needle 165 from the second extendedposition to the first extended position when air pressure within thelower half of the sample head 162 is reduced. Air pressure is increasedin the lower half of the sample head 162 to move the sample needle 165to the retracted position. The biasing member 190 may have variousshapes, configurations and/or sizes and is not limited to a particularembodiment.

[0186] In the illustrated embodiment, air is supplied via nozzle 192 toeach sample head 162 to dry outside portions of each respective sampleneedle 165 after sanitizing each respective sample needle 165.

[0187] Referring to FIG. 36D, an exemplary sanitizing fountain 200 thatmay be utilized to sterilize a respective sample needle 165, inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention, is illustrated.The illustrated fountain 200 has a bore 201 formed therein that isconfigured to receive a respective sample needle 165 therein. Sanitizingfluid is supplied to the fountain from a source via a supply line 202.The fountain 200 contains one or more nozzles (not shown) that areconfigured to spray the sample needle 165 with sanitizing fluid.According to embodiments of the present invention, an array of fountains200 are provided such that sample needles 165 from a respective array ofsample heads 162 can be lowered into respective fountains 200 at thesame time after dispensing extracted egg material into samplereceptacles of a sample tray. Embodiments of the present invention,however, are not limited to the illustrated sanitizing fountain 200.Sanitizing systems utilizing various types of devices for applyingsanitizing fluid to a sample needle may be utilized.

[0188] Referring now to FIGS. 37, 38A-38B and 39A-39C, the lockingplates 185 will now be described. FIG. 37 is a plan view of an array ofsample heads 162 taken along lines 37-37 of FIG. 33 that illustrates thelocking plates 185. The illustrated locking plates 185 include aplurality of apertures 300 formed therein in the array pattern of thearray of sample heads 162. Each sample head 162 is configured to beslidably disposed within a respective aperture 300 and is configured tomove freely in a vertical direction when the locking plates 185 are notin the locked position.

[0189] Within each illustrated aperture are a pair of resilient arms 302that are configured to apply a biasing force to a respective samplinghead 162 when the locking plates 185 are moved to the locked position.The resilient arms 302 are configured to prevent one sampling head thatis slightly larger than other sampling heads from binding the wholeapparatus and preventing other sampling heads from being locked inplace. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 38A, the locking plates 185move away from each other when moved to the locked position. However,embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the illustratedlocking plates 185 or to their direction of movement.

[0190]FIG. 38B illustrates locking plates 185′ according to otherembodiments of the present invention. The illustrated locking plates185′ include a plurality of apertures 300 formed therein the arraypattern of the array of sample heads 162. Each sample head 162 isconfigured to be slidably disposed within a respective aperture 300 andis configured to move freely in a vertical direction when the lockingplates 185′ are not in the locked position. In the illustratedembodiment of FIG. 38B, the locking plates 185′ also move away from eachother when moved to the locked position.

[0191] Within each illustrated aperture are a pair of resilient arms302′, a support block 303, and springs 304 connected to the resilientarms 302′ that are configured to apply a biasing force to the supportblock 303. When the locking plates 185′ are moved relative to the fixedupper and lower plates, the resilient arms 302′ engage a respectivesampling head and the springs 304 apply a biasing force to the block 303which restrains the sampling head from vertical movement. As with theembodiment of FIG. 38A, the resilient arms 302′ are configured toprevent one sampling head that is slightly larger than other samplingheads from binding the whole apparatus and preventing other samplingheads from being locked in place.

[0192] Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to theillustrated locking plates 185 of FIGS. 38A-38B. Locking plates havingdifferent configurations may be utilized as well. In addition, otherways of restraining sampling head movement may be utilized (e.g., seeU.S. Pat. No. 5,136,979 to Paul et al., which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety).

[0193] Movement of the locking plates 185 are illustrated in FIGS.39A-39C. In FIG. 39A, a locking plate 185 is in an unlocked position andthe sampling head 162 is free to move vertically within the aperture 300of the locking plate 185 and the respective apertures 186 a, 187 a inthe upper and lower stationary plates 186, 187, as illustrated. In FIG.39B, the locking plate is being moved to the locked position (indicatedby arrows A₆) such that the locking plate 185 pushes the sampling head162 towards the upper and lower stationary plates 186, 187. In FIG. 39C,the sampling head 162 is wedged against the stationary upper and lowerplates 186, 187 by the locking plate 185 such that vertical movement ofthe sampling head 162 is restrained.

[0194] Referring now to FIG. 40, an exemplary sample tray 151 containinga plurality of sample receptacles 152 formed therein in various arraysis illustrated. Each sample receptacle 152 is configured to receive asample of material extracted from a respective egg, such as allantoicfluid. Sample trays having various configurations and arrays of samplereceptacles may be utilized in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention. Sample trays may be formed from various materials andvia various techniques. The present invention is not limited to theillustrated sample tray 150.

[0195]FIG. 41 is an enlarged partial plan view of the sample tray ofFIG. 40 illustrating material extracted from eggs dispensed withinrespective sample receptacles of the sample tray. Material extractedfrom eggs may be disposed within respective sample receptacles 152 of asample tray 150 according to various dispensing patterns. For example,as illustrated in FIG. 41, material from eggs from a particular flat canbe disposed within the first receptacle 152 a in the first row of agrouping of receptacles. Material from eggs in a subsequent flat can bedisposed in the second receptacle 152 b in the first row, etc.Dispensing patterns are preferably controlled via a controller (e.g.,PLC 70 a of FIG. 12).

[0196] FIGS. 42A-42B are top plan views of the sample tray handlingsystem 150 according to embodiments of the present invention andillustrating sample trays 151 being moved (indicated by arrows A₇)relative to (i.e., beneath) a sampling apparatus 160 of FIG. 14. Becauseeach sampling apparatus 160 of the illustrated material extractionapparatus of FIG. 14 is fixed, the sample tray handling system 150 isconfigured to move sample receptacles 152 beneath respective samplingheads 162 such that material extracted from eggs can be dispensed withinappropriate sample receptacles. Once the sample receptacles 152 of asample tray 151 have received extracted egg material, the sample trays151 are offloaded (either manually or automatically) and the extractedegg material is allowed to dry. Once a sample tray 151 is offloaded, thesample tray handling system 150 moves back to receive a new sample tray151 loaded by an operator.

[0197] Although not illustrated, a sanitizer system is preferablyprovided with the illustrated material extraction apparatus 30 of FIG.14. For example, a sanitizer system may be operably associated with thesampling heads 162 of each sampling apparatus 160 and configured to pumpsanitizing fluid through and around the outside of the sample heads 162,including the elongated needles 165 and needle passageways 164. Forexample; see the illustrated fountain 200 of FIG. 36D which isconfigured to apply sanitizing fluid to a sample needle 165. Sanitizingfluid is preferably applied to each portion of a sample head 162 thatcomes into contact with an egg after depositing material extracted froman egg into a respective sample receptacle 152 in the sample tray 150.Preferably, means for drying each sample head 162, needle 165, andpassageway 164 are provided after sanitizing fluid has been appliedthereto. For example, a system for directing air at each sample head162, needle 165, and passageway 164 may be provided. In the illustratedembodiment of FIGS. 36A-36C, drying air is provided via nozzle 192.

[0198] Exemplary sanitizing fluid systems for providing sanitizing fluidand which may be utilized in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,176,101, and U.S. Pat. No.RE 35,973, which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

[0199] Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to theillustrated material extraction apparatus 30 of FIG. 14, or to the exactprocess described above. Each of the components (egg transfer apparatus130, egg cradle table 110, sampling apparatus 160, egg flat conveyorsystems 102, 104) may operate in various ways as long as materialextracted from an egg can be identified as coming from that particularegg.

Assaying Station

[0200] Referring now to FIGS. 43-46, an assaying station 60 and methodsof using the assaying station 60 to determine characteristics of eggs,according to embodiments of the present invention, will now bedescribed. The illustrated assaying station 60 is configured to processa plurality of sample trays containing material extracted from eggs asdescribed above in order to determine one or more characteristics of theeggs.

[0201] Referring initially to FIGS. 43-44, a holding area 410 isconfigured to receive and hold a plurality of sample trays containingmaterial extracted from a plurality of eggs for a predetermined periodof time. Each sample tray is then transferred from the holding area 410into the biosensor (e.g., yeast) application area 420 where a biosensoris added to the sample receptacles in each sample tray. Each sample traythen passes into the color application area 430 where a color substrate(e.g., OPNG substrate) is added to the sample receptacles in each sampletray. Broadly speaking, a biosensor and a color substrate are added tothe dried material (e.g., allantoic fluid) extracted from an egg tocause a chemical reaction that can change the color of the driedmaterial based upon a characteristic (e.g., gender) of an egg. After apredetermined period of time, each sample tray is transferred 440 to the“read” area 450 and the color of the material in each sample receptacleis analyzed to determine the characteristic. For example, if thecharacteristic to be determined is gender, the material extracted from afemale egg may have a color that is easily distinguishable from that ofa male egg. Before a sample tray is disposed of, it is preferable todestroy the biosensor via the decontamination area 460.

[0202] According to embodiments of the present invention, the assayingstation 60 is particularly adaptable to determine gender of eggs. Anoperator loads a plurality of sample templates containing material(e.g., allantoic fluid) extracted from eggs into the assaying station60. Within the assaying module 60, each sample template is moved via aconveyor system beneath a dispensing head which dispenses apredetermined amount (e.g., about 75 μl) of reagent (e.g., aLiveSensors™ brand cell-based biosensor, LifeSensors, Inc., Malvern,Pa.) into each respective sample receptacle. Each sample template thenprogresses through an environmentally-controlled chamber for apredetermined period of time (e.g., about 3.5 hours). Each sampletemplate is moved via a conveyor system beneath another dispensing headwhich dispenses a predetermined amount of a color substrate (e.g.,ONPG-based substrate) into each sample receptacle. Each sample templatethen progresses through an environmentally-controlled chamber for apredetermined period of time (e.g., about 45 minutes) to allow colordevelopment within each well.

[0203] The LiveSensors™ brand cell-based biosensor is utilized to detectestrogenic compounds in allantoic fluid. An exemplary LiveSensors™ brandcell-based biosensor is a genetically modified yeast transformed withyeast expression vector for the human estrogen receptor, the reportergene that contains promoter with estrogen response elements coupled withE. coli β-alactosidase. In the presence of estrogens, the estrogenreceptor binds to the estrogen response elements and initiatestranscription of the reporter gene. The concentration of estrogens inthe allantoic fluid is correlative with the level of induction of thereporter gene. The activity of the reporter gene product,B-galactosidase, is measured using an ONPG-based substrate, which yieldsa yellow colorimetric signal. LiveSensors™ brand cell-based biosensorcan detect femtomolar levels of estrogens. The strain of yeast of theLiveSensors™ brand cell-based biosensor is comprised of the same straincommonly used in the baking industry, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. TheLiveSensors™ brand cell-based biosensor can distinguish between male andfemale embryos using only about four microliters (4 μl) of allantoicfluid.

[0204] Specifically, the extracted allantoic fluid contains estradiolconjugates which are cleaved by an enzyme (glucuronidase) secreted bythe yeast during an initial allantoic fluid/yeast sensor incubation. Thepresence of “free” estradiol readily induces the reporter gene systemwithin the yeast to produce Beta-galactosidase. The Beta-galactosidasethen reacts with an ONPG-based substrate, added after the allantoicfluid/yeast sensor incubation, to generate a color signal.

[0205] According to alternative embodiments of the present invention,the yeast may be induced to secrete GFP instead of Beta-Gal, which isfluorescent by itself and doesn't require the addition of a colorimetricsubstrate.

[0206] The color of the material in each sample receptacle can bedetermined in various ways. One technique may include illuminating theextracted material with a white light and using a CCD (charge coupleddevice) camera that scans each sample receptacle and electronicallyfilters out all color signals but the specific color signal (e.g.,yellow, pink, etc.) that identifies a gender (e.g., females).Preferably, each sample tray is transparent and the extracted materialwithin each sample tray is illuminated from below. A CCD camera may beconfigured to count the number of pixels of a color in a respectivesample receptacle to determine if the pixel number exceeds a certainthreshold. If so, the CCD camera can output a digital signal signifyinga female at that location. This information is stored via a dataprocessor on the network.

[0207]FIG. 45 depicts an assay conducted with a LiveSensors™ brandcell-based biosensor for various amounts of allantoic fluid (i.e., 4,10, 20 μl). The intensity of the color (e.g., yellow) as measured inpixels by a CCD camera is indicated under each sample receptacle. Asillustrated, females have a greater yellow color intensity than males.

[0208] According to embodiments of the present invention, the reagent(e.g., a LiveSensors™ brand cell-based biosensor) within each well isthen destroyed (e.g., via heat and/or via chemical treatment) in thedecontamination area 460 prior to disposal of each sample template.

[0209] According to embodiments of the present invention utilizing aLiveSensors™ brand cell-based biosensor, a sample of material such asallantoic fluid withdrawn from an egg may contain upwards of abouttwenty percent (20%) blood contamination. Moreover, the incubationtemperature may fluctuate by about five degrees Centigrade (±5° C.), andsample incubation times can fluctuate by thirty minutes or more. Inaddition, samples withdrawn from eggs can be held for certain periods oftime (e.g., over night) prior to initiating assaying proceduresaccording to embodiments of the present invention.

[0210] Another technique may involve illuminating the extracted materialwith a white light and utilizing an array of photodiodes with colorfilters. Each photodiode will output a signal based on the intensity ofthe color it sees.

[0211] Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to theyeast-based assaying techniques. Moreover, embodiments of the presentinvention are not limited to identifying gender of eggs. Variousassaying techniques may be utilized for analyzing material extractedfrom eggs to identify various characteristics (e.g., gender, pathogencontent, genetic markers related to bird health or performance) of eggs.For example, antibody-based systems and methods (e.g., commercialpregnancy testing systems and methods) may be utilized to detectestrogen in egg material. Moreover, antibody-based systems may beutilized to detect pathogens (e.g., salmonella and Marek's disease). Asanother example, PCR (polymer chain reaction) analysis may be utilizedto detect the presence/absence of W chromosomes in egg material.Moreover, PCR analysis may be utilized to detect various genetictraits/flaws in egg material. Accordingly, assaying modules may beprovided that facilitate pathogen detection and genetic analysis ofavian eggs.

[0212] Referring now to FIG. 46, an assaying station apparatus 60,according to embodiments of the present invention, that is configured toassay material extracted from eggs contained within sample receptaclesin a plurality of sample trays 151 is illustrated. The illustratedapparatus 60 includes a plurality of chambers or areas that areconnected via conveyor systems that are configured to transport sampletrays sequentially through the areas. Preferably, the areas aremaintained at predetermined temperature and humidity levels. Additionalenvironmental controls may be utilized as well. For example, air can beexhausted from the apparatus 60 via fan 416 at a designated flow rate,and may be filtered via a HEPA (“high efficiency particulate arresting”)filtration system.

[0213] As illustrated in FIG. 46, a plurality of sample trays 151 areloaded from a cart 405 into the holding area 410. The holding area 410includes a first endless conveyor system 411 that is configured totransport a plurality of sample trays in spaced-apart relationshipupwardly to the biosensor application area 420 within a predeterminedperiod of time. At the top of the holding area, each uppermost sampletray on the first endless conveyor system is pulled into the biosensorapplication area 420 and beneath dispensers (not shown) configured todispense a biosensor (e.g., yeast) into the respective samplereceptacles of the sample tray.

[0214] After a biosensor has been dispensed into the sample receptaclesof a sample tray, the sample tray is conveyed by a second endlessconveyor system 412 downwardly towards a color substrate applicationarea 430. At the bottom of the second endless conveyor system 412, eachlowermost sample tray is pulled into the color substrate applicationarea 430 and beneath dispensers (not shown) that are configured todispense a color substrate (e.g., ONPG-based substrate) into therespective sample receptacles of the sample tray.

[0215] After a color substrate has been dispensed into the samplereceptacles of a sample tray, the sample tray is conveyed by a thirdendless conveyor system 413 downwardly towards a reading area 450. Atthe bottom of the third endless conveyor system 413, each lowermostsample tray is pulled into the reading area 450 and beneath one or moreCCD cameras 415 that are configured to “read” the color of extractedmaterial in each sample receptacle as described above. The biosensor ineach sample receptacle is then destroyed by dispensing a chemicalthereinto via dispensing head 417.

Treatment Station

[0216] The treatment station 40 of the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 11may be configured to selectively treat eggs in any desired, suitablemanner. It is particularly contemplated that the treatment station 40inject live eggs with a treatment substance. As used herein, the term“treatment substance” refers to a substance that is injected into an eggto achieve a desired result. Treatment substances include but are notlimited to vaccines, antibiotics, vitamins, virus, and immunomodulatorysubstances. Vaccines designed for in ovo use to combat outbreaks ofavian diseases in hatched birds are commercially available. Typically,the treatment substance is dispersed in a fluid medium, (e.g., is afluid or emulsion) or is a solid dissolved in a fluid, or a particulatedispersed or suspended in a fluid.

[0217] A preferred treatment station 40 for use in accordance withembodiments of the present invention is the INOVOJECT® automatedinjection system (Embrex, Inc., Research Triangle Park, N.C.). However,any in ovo injection device capable of being operably connected, asdescribed herein, to a controller is suitable for use according toembodiments of the present invention. Suitable injection devicespreferably are designed to operate in conjunction with commercial eggcarrier devices or flats, examples of which are described above.

Sorting Followed By Treatment

[0218] Referring to FIGS. 47-51, sorting and transferring of eggs 1′prior to treatment, according to embodiments of the present invention,are illustrated. Referring initially to FIG. 47, a sorting station 500includes an endless conveyor system 502 and a pair of transfer heads504, 506 operably associated therewith. Eggs with identifiedcharacteristics (e.g., gender) are placed on the conveyor system 502 atone end 502 a thereof in flats or other holding containers and are movedalong the conveyor system in the direction indicated by arrow A₈.Transfer head 504 includes an array of vacuum cups 137 as describedabove with respect to FIGS. 27-29 that are configured to simultaneouslylift a plurality of eggs from the conveyor system 502 and place the eggson a first conveyor belt 508 (FIG. 48). Transfer head 506 includes anarray of vacuum cups 137 that are configured to simultaneously lift aplurality of eggs from the conveyor system 502 and place the eggs on asecond conveyor belt 510 (FIG. 48).

[0219] Each transfer head 504, 506 may be configured to selectively lifteggs from the conveyor system 502 based upon characteristics of the eggs(e.g., gender). For example, transfer head 504 may be configured to onlylift male eggs, while transfer head 506 is configured to only liftfemale eggs. Transfer heads 504, 506 and conveyor system 502 arepreferably under computer control (e.g., PLC 70 c of FIG. 12).

[0220] As illustrated in FIG. 48, the transfer heads 504, 506 areconfigured to move in the direction indicated by arrows A₉ such thateggs can be placed on respective conveyor belts 508, 510. The directionof travel of conveyor belts 508, 510 is also indicated by arrows A₉.

[0221] Referring now to FIG. 49, each conveyor belt 508, 510 is operablyassociated with a respective backfill apparatus 520. Each backfillapparatus 520 is configured to orient and hold eggs in a predeterminedposition for processing (e.g., injection, etc.). Each illustratedbackfill apparatus 520 includes an endless conveyor 522 which has aplurality of parallel rollers 524 which are rotatably connected at theirends with a drive mechanism (e.g., chains, etc.). The rollers 524 movein the direction indicated by arrows A₉ while also rotating in theclockwise direction as viewed from FIG. 51. Under the effect of themovement and rotation of the rollers 524, eggs 1′ travel along thedirection indicated by arrow A₉ (with their narrow ends generallyperpendicular to the direction of travel indicated by arrow A₉) and arefed into respective channels 528 and then into respective receiving cups530 with their narrow ends pointing downwards, as illustrated in FIG.51. The receiving cups 530 are mounted on an endless conveyor system 540that moves the cups in the direction indicated by arrows Ag. Anexemplary backfill apparatus 520 is described in U.S. Pat. No.3,592,327, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0222] Each receiving cup 530 transports a respective egg 1′ to atreatment station 40, such as the INOVOJECT®automated injection system.For example, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 49, eggs 1′ withinrespective receiving cups 530 are transported through respectivetreatment and transfer stations 40, 50. Each treatment station 40contains a set of injection delivery devices that are configured toinject a substance into eggs 1′. A transfer station 50 is provideddownstream of each treatment station 40 and is configured to transfereggs 1′ into respective baskets (not shown).

[0223] Backfill apparatus according to embodiments of the presentinvention may have various configurations, and are not limited to theillustrated embodiments. Backfill apparatus may include differentnumbers of channels and may include receiving cups of varying sizesand/or configurations. Moreover, various types of rollers and conveyorsystems may be utilized without limitation.

Treatment Followed By Sorting

[0224] Referring to FIG. 52, treatment and sorting/transfer stations 40,50 according to other embodiments of the present invention areillustrated. As a flat 7 of post-sampled eggs 1′ is conveyed through thetreatment station 40, the controller 20 (FIG. 11) selectively generatesan injection signal to the treatment station 40 to inject those eggs 1′which have been identified as having a particular characteristic. Aswill be apparent to those skilled in the art, generation of a selectiveinjection signal may be achieved by various approaches, includinggenerating a signal that causes the injection of selected eggs, orgenerating a signal that prevents the injection of non-selected eggs.

[0225] In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of injection stations 41,42, such as the INOVOJECT®automated injection system, are employed. Thefirst injection station 41 contains a first set of injection deliverydevices that are configured to inject a substance into eggs 1′identified as having a first characteristic. The second injectionstation 42 contains a first set of injection delivery devices that areconfigured to inject a substance into eggs 1′ identified as having asecond characteristic. For example, if gender is the identifiedcharacteristic, the first injection station 41 can inject a vaccine orother substance into male eggs, and the second injection station 42 caninject a vaccine or other substance into female eggs.

[0226] A sorting/transfer station 50 may be provided downstream of thetreatment station 40. The controller 20 generates a selective removalsignal to cause the sorting/transfer station 50 to remove eggs havingvarious identified characteristics (e.g., gender). The sorting/transferstation 50 may employ suction-type lifting devices as described abovewith respect to the lifting heads 132, 134 of the material extractionapparatus 30. Any other suitable means for removing the eggs may be usedas well, such apparatus being known to those of ordinary skill in theart.

[0227] In the illustrated embodiment, eggs identified according togender are sorted. Male eggs are transferred from egg flats 7 torespective baskets 51 and female eggs are transferred from egg flats 7to respective baskets 52. Any non-live eggs may be left in the egg flats7 for subsequent processing or disposal.

[0228] The sorting/transfer station 50 preferably operates automaticallyand robotically. Alternatively, selected eggs may be identified on theoperator interface 22, optionally marked, and removed by hand.

[0229] According to embodiments of the present invention, eggs may besorted based on viability, pathogen content, and/or genetic analysis.For example, eggs that contain pathogens can be pulled out of the normalpopulation and not transferred to the hatcher, thereby preventinghorizontal transmission of disease agents.

Information Collection

[0230] Systems according to embodiments of the present invention canprovide valuable information to those in the poultry industry. Forexample, identification and compilation of classes of embryonicmortality can provide feedback on breeder flock management, egg handlingand incubation conditions. Knowledge of number of viable eggs and sexcan provide an accurate prediction of product and streamline andoptimize logistics. Identification of pathogen detection and compilationof data can help manage disease. Identification of genetic markers canbe utilized by breeders. Identification of nutritional elements withinthe egg can be used to optimize feeding diets and regimes.Identification of proteins or small molecules can be used to track orpredict or optimize performance or immunity. In addition, one could useinformation from embodiments of the present invention to track eggconstituents and then relate them to bird performance and use thisinformation for product development.

Material Extraction/Assaying Combination

[0231] According to embodiments of the present invention, a materialextraction station may be configured to perform various assayingtechniques for determining characteristics of eggs. FIGS. 53-54illustrate a module 600 that is configured to attach to the materialextraction apparatus 30 of FIG. 14. An exemplary module 600 for assayingmaterial in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, andspecifically using the competitive antibody assay procedure describedbelow, is manufactured by Luminex Corporation, Austin, Tex.

[0232] The illustrated module 600 is configured to pull small samples ofmaterial extracted from eggs out of respective sample receptacles andfeed them into a reader system for analysis. Preferably, a sample tray151 having a plurality of sample receptacles 152 that contain materialextracted from eggs is fed into the illustrated module 600 from thesample tray handling system 150.

[0233] A competitive antibody assay procedure is utilized by the module600 and is based on antibody coupled to internally dyed “beads”. Theillustrated module 600 may be configured to handle any number if sampletrays 151 at a time. For each sample tray 151, the module 600 includes aliquid handler that is configured to pull small samples from respectivesample receptacles in a sample tray 151 and feed them into a readersystem.

[0234] Specifically, if allantoic fluid is the material that has beenextracted from eggs, the module 600 takes allantoic fluid and mixes itwith polystyrene microspheres, or beads (available from Luminex, Inc.,Austin, Tex.) which are coupled to estradiol molecules.Fluorescently-labeled anti-estradiol antibody is added to thebead/allantoic fluid mixture and mixed. This mixture is then incubatedat room temperature in the dark for 15-30 minutes. An amount of themixture (e.g., 50 μl-60 μl) is withdrawn and the assay results areprovided by an analyzer (Luminex, Inc., Austin, Tex.) which utilizeslasers to detect a fluorescent signal.

[0235] This assay procedure is based on competitive inhibition. Acompetition for the fluorescently labeled anti-estradiol antibody isestablished between the estradiol coupled to the beads and the estradiolin the allantoic sample. If the allantoic sample is from a female embryoand contains estradiol, the estradiol in the sample will compete for thefluorescently tagged antibody and less antibody will bind to the beads.The assay signal, dependent upon the amount of antibody bound to thebeads, will be lower from a female-derived sample (inhibition offluorescent signal). If the allantoic sample is from a male embryo anddoes not contain estradiol, there will be much less competition fromestradiol in the sample and more beads will have the antibody bound. Themore antibody bound to the beads, the higher the signal.

[0236] According to embodiments of the present invention, coupled beadsand antibody may be already present within sample receptacles of asample tray. By eliminating the additional steps of adding beads andantibody with extracted allantoic fluid, assaying time may be decreased,which may be commercially advantageous.

[0237] Referring to FIG. 54, the illustrated module 600 includes atemplate handling system 602, a high throughput reader system 604 foranalyzing samples, controls 606, and a fluid supply and drain system608.

[0238] The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is notto be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplaryembodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in theart will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in theexemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novelteachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of thisinvention as defined in the claims. Therefore, it is to be understoodthat the foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is notto be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, andthat modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as well as otherembodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of theappended claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, withequivalents of the claims to be included therein.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A method of processing eggs having anidentified characteristic, comprising: extracting material from each ofa plurality of eggs; assaying the material extracted from each egg toidentify eggs having a characteristic; and selectively processing eggsidentified as having the characteristic.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising: identifying live eggs among the plurality of eggsprior to extracting material; and extracting material from eggsidentified as live eggs.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein identifyinglive eggs comprises candling the eggs.
 4. The method of claim 2, whereinidentifying live eggs comprises: illuminating each egg with light from alight source, wherein the light includes light in both visible andinfrared wavelengths; receiving light passing through each egg at adetector positioned adjacent each egg; determining intensity of thereceived light at selected ones of the visible and infrared wavelengthsfor each egg; generating a spectrum for each egg that represents lightintensity at the plurality of visible and infrared wavelengths; andcomparing the generated spectrum for each egg with a spectrum associatedwith a live egg to identify live eggs.
 5. The method of claim 4, whereinthe step of illuminating each egg with light comprises illuminating eachegg with light at wavelengths of between about three hundred nanometersand about eleven hundred nanometers (300 nm-1,100 nm).
 6. The method ofclaim 2, wherein identifying live eggs comprises: measuring theopacities of the plurality of eggs; measuring the temperatures of theplurality of eggs; and identifying live eggs using the measuredopacities and temperatures.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein extractingmaterial from the eggs comprises extracting allantoic fluid, amnion,yolk, shell, albumen, tissue, membrane and/or blood from the eggs. 8.The method of claim 7, wherein extracting material from the eggscomprises: positioning each of the eggs in a generally horizontalorientation whereby an allantois of each egg is caused to pool andenlarge an allantoic sac under an upper portion of each egg shell;inserting a probe into each egg through the shell of the egg anddirectly into the enlarged allantoic sac; and withdrawing a sample ofallantoic fluid from the allantois of each egg via each probe.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, wherein positioning each of the eggs in a generallyhorizontal orientation comprises positioning each of the eggs such thata long axis of each egg is oriented at an angle between about 10 degreesand about 180 degrees from vertical, wherein zero degrees vertical isdefined by a large end of an egg in a vertically upward position. 10.The method of claim 8, further comprising: repositioning each of theeggs from a generally horizontal orientation to a generally verticalorientation after allantoic fluid is withdrawn therefrom; and moving thegenerally vertically oriented eggs to another location.
 11. The methodof claim 8, wherein assaying the material extracted from each egg toidentify one or more characteristics of each egg comprises detecting apresence of an estrogenic compound in the extracted allantoic fluid. 12.The method of claim 11, wherein detecting a presence of an estrogeniccompound comprises: dispensing allantoic fluid extracted from the eggsinto respective receptacles; dispensing a biosensor into thereceptacles, wherein the biosensor is configured to chemically reactwith an estrogenic compound in the allantoic fluid and change a color ofthe allantoic fluid; and detecting a color change of the allantoic fluidwithin the receptacles.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting apresence of an estrogenic compound comprises: dispensing allantoic fluidextracted from the eggs into respective receptacles, wherein eachreceptacle contains a biosensor configured to chemically react with anestrogenic compound in the allantoic fluid and change a color of theallantoic fluid; and detecting a color change of the allantoic fluidwithin the receptacles.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein assaying thematerial extracted from each egg to identify one or more characteristicsof each egg comprises identifying gender of each egg, and whereinselectively processing the live eggs comprises selectively injecting avaccine into the eggs of gender.
 15. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising injecting a first vaccine into eggs identified as male, andinjecting a second vaccine into eggs identified as female.
 16. Themethod of claim 1, wherein assaying the material extracted from each eggto identify one or more characteristics of each egg comprisesidentifying gender of each egg, and wherein processing the live eggscomprises removing eggs identified as having the same gender.
 17. Themethod of claim 1, wherein assaying the material extracted from each eggto identify one or more characteristics of each egg comprisesidentifying one or more pathogens within each egg, and whereinprocessing the live eggs comprises removing eggs identified as havingone or more pathogens.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein assaying thematerial extracted from each egg to identify one or more characteristicsof each egg comprises performing genetic analysis on each egg.
 19. Amethod of processing eggs based on gender, comprising: identifying liveeggs among a plurality of eggs; extracting material from the eggsidentified as live eggs; assaying the material extracted from each liveegg to identify gender of each live egg; and selectively injecting avaccine into the live eggs according to gender.
 20. The method of claim19, further comprising sorting the live eggs according to gender priorto selectively injecting a vaccine into the live eggs.
 21. The method ofclaim 19, further comprising sorting the live eggs according to genderafter selectively injecting a vaccine into the live eggs.
 22. The methodof claim 19, wherein identifying live eggs comprises candling the eggs.23. The method of claim 19, wherein identifying live eggs comprises:illuminating each egg with light from a light source, wherein the lightincludes light in both visible and infrared wavelengths; receiving lightpassing through each egg at a detector positioned adjacent each egg;determining intensity of the received light at selected ones of thevisible and infrared wavelengths for each egg; generating a spectrum foreach egg that represents light intensity at the plurality of visible andinfrared wavelengths; and comparing the generated spectrum for each eggwith a spectrum associated with a live egg to identify live eggs. 24.The method of claim 19, wherein the step of illuminating each egg withlight comprises illuminating each egg with light at wavelengths ofbetween about three hundred nanometers and about eleven hundrednanometers (300 nm - 1,100 nm).
 25. The method of claim 19, whereinidentifying live eggs comprises: measuring the opacities of theplurality of eggs; measuring the temperatures of the plurality of eggs;and identifying live eggs using the measured opacities and temperatures.26. The method of claim 19, wherein extracting material from the eggscomprises extracting allantoic fluid, amnion, yolk, shell, albumen,tissue, membrane and/or blood from the eggs.
 27. The method of claim 26,wherein assaying the material extracted from each live egg to identifygender of each live egg comprises detecting the presence of anestrogenic compound in the allantoic fluid extracted from each live egg.28. The method of claim 26, wherein extracting material from the eggscomprises: positioning each of the live eggs in a generally horizontalorientation whereby an allantois of each egg is caused to pool andenlarge an allantoic sac under an upper portion of each egg shell;inserting a probe into each egg through the shell of the egg anddirectly into the enlarged allantoic sac; and withdrawing a sample ofallantoic fluid from the allantois of each egg via each probe.
 29. Themethod of claim 28, wherein positioning each of the live eggs in agenerally horizontal orientation comprises positioning each of the liveeggs such that a long axis of each egg is oriented at an angle betweenabout 10 degrees and about 180 degrees from vertical, wherein zerodegrees vertical is defined by a large end of an egg in a verticallyupward position.
 30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:repositioning each of the live eggs from a generally horizontalorientation to a generally vertical orientation after allantoic fluid iswithdrawn therefrom; and moving the generally vertically oriented liveeggs to another location.
 31. The method of claim 27, wherein detectinga presence of estrogen compounds comprises: dispensing allantoic fluidextracted from the live eggs into respective receptacles; dispensing abiosensor into the receptacles, wherein the biosensor is configured tochemically react with an estrogenic compound in the allantoic fluid andchange a color of the allantoic fluid; and detecting a color change ofthe allantoic fluid within the receptacles.
 32. The method of claim 27,wherein detecting a presence of estrogen compounds comprises: dispensingallantoic fluid extracted from the eggs into respective receptacles,wherein each receptacle contains a biosensor configured to chemicallyreact with an estrogenic compound in the allantoic fluid and change acolor of the allantoic fluid; and detecting a color change of theallantoic fluid within the receptacles.
 33. The method of claim 19,wherein detecting a presence of estrogen compounds comprises: dispensingallantoic fluid extracted from the eggs into respective receptacles,wherein each receptacle contains a biosensor configured to chemicallyreact with an estrogenic compound in the allantoic fluid and produce adetectable signal; and detecting a signal produced within one or more ofthe receptacles.
 34. A method of processing eggs according to gender,comprising: identifying live eggs among a plurality of eggs; extractingallantoic fluid from the eggs identified as live eggs, comprising:positioning each of the live eggs in a generally horizontal orientationwhereby an allantois of each egg is caused to pool and enlarge anallantoic sac under an upper portion of each egg shell; inserting aprobe into each egg through the shell of the egg and directly into theenlarged allantoic sac; and withdrawing a sample of allantoic fluid fromthe allantois of each egg via each probe; detecting a presence of anestrogenic compound in the allantoic fluid extracted from each live eggto identify a gender of each live egg, comprising: dispensing allantoicfluid extracted from the live eggs into respective receptacles;dispensing a biosensor into the receptacles, wherein the biosensor isconfigured to chemically react with an estrogenic compound in theallantoic fluid and change a color of the allantoic fluid; and detectinga color change of the allantoic fluid within the receptacles; andselectively injecting a vaccine into the live eggs according to gender.35. The method of claim 34, further comprising sorting the live eggsaccording to gender.
 36. The method of claim 34, wherein identifyinglive eggs comprises candling each egg.
 37. The method of claim 34,wherein selectively injecting a vaccine into the live eggs according togender comprises injecting a first vaccine into live eggs identified asmale, and injecting a second vaccine into live eggs identified asfemale.
 38. The method of claim 34, wherein selectively injecting avaccine into the live eggs according to gender comprises injecting avaccine into live eggs identified as having the same gender.
 39. Anapparatus for extracting material from a plurality of eggs, comprising:a table comprising a plurality of cradles arranged in an array, whereineach cradle is configured to receive an egg in a generally verticalorientation and to cause the egg to move to a generally horizontalorientation; an egg transfer device operably associated with the table,wherein the egg transfer device is configured to simultaneously lift aplurality of generally vertically oriented eggs from an egg flat andplace the plurality of eggs within respective cradles, and wherein theegg transfer device is configured to simultaneously lift and remove theplurality of eggs from the plurality of cradles; and a plurality ofsample heads operably associated with the table, each of which isconfigured to extract material from a respective egg within a respectivecradle and to deposit the extracted material within a respective samplereceptacle in a sample template.
 40. The apparatus of claim 39, furthercomprising a plurality of orientation members, wherein each orientationmember is operably associated with a respective cradle, and wherein eachorientation member is configured to urge an egg within a respectivecradle from a generally horizontal orientation to a generally verticalorientation.
 41. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising aclassifier that is configured to identify live eggs among a plurality ofeggs.
 42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the classifier comprises anegg candling device.
 43. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising asanitizer that is configured to apply sanitizing fluid to each samplehead after each sample head has deposited material extracted from an egginto a respective sample receptacle.
 44. The apparatus of claim 39,further comprising a processor that is configured to create and store anassociation between material deposited within a sample receptacle withan egg from which the material was extracted from.
 45. The apparatus ofclaim 41, wherein the egg transfer device is operably associated withthe classifier and is configured to simultaneously lift only eggsidentified as live eggs from an egg flat.
 46. The apparatus of claim 41,wherein the sample heads are operably associated with the classifier andare configured to only extract material from eggs identified as liveeggs.
 47. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the egg transfer devicecomprises: a frame; an array of manifold blocks movably supported by theframe, wherein each manifold block comprises an end portion and aninternal passageway that terminates at a nozzle extending from the endportion, and wherein the array is expandable and contractible such thateggs can be lifted from and placed within egg flats of different sizesand/or array configurations; and a plurality of flexible cups, eachsecured to a respective manifold block nozzle and each in fluidcommunication with an internal passageway of a respective manifoldblock, wherein each flexible cup is configured to engage and retain anegg in seated relation therewith when vacuum is provided within theflexible cup via a respective internal passageway and wherein eachflexible cup is configured to release a respective egg when vacuumwithin the respective internal passageway is destroyed.
 48. Theapparatus of claim 39, wherein each sample head comprises: an elongatedhousing having opposite first and second ends and an elongatedpassageway extending therebetween; and an elongated needle disposedwithin the elongated passageway and movable between a retracted positionand first and second extended positions, wherein the needle comprises atip, wherein the tip of the needle is contained within the passagewaywhen the needle is in the retracted position, wherein the tip of theneedle extends from the housing first end a first distance when theneedle is in the first extended position, wherein the tip of the needleextends from the housing first end a second distance greater than thefirst distance when the needle is in the second extended position,wherein the needle is configured to extract material from an egg when inthe first extended position, and wherein the needle is configured todispense material extracted from an egg into a sample receptacle when inthe second extended position.
 49. The apparatus of claim 39, furthercomprising an alignment member associated with each sample head that isconfigured to adjust a position of an egg within a respective cradle.50. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising: an egg flat transportsystem positioned adjacent to the table that transports flats of eggs tothe egg transfer device; and an egg flat transport system positionedadjacent to the table that transports flats of eggs from the eggtransfer device.
 51. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising asample template transport system positioned adjacent to the table andoperably associated with the plurality of sample heads that transportssample templates to and from the plurality of sample heads.
 52. Theapparatus of claim 39, further comprising an egg cradle transport systemoperably associated with the table that moves the array of cradlesrelative to the plurality of sample heads.
 53. The apparatus of claim48, further comprising a locking plate operably associated with theplurality of sample heads, wherein the locking plate is configured toreleasably restrain each elongated housing from movement when the needleis extended from the housing first end to the first extended position.54. An apparatus for extracting material from a plurality of eggs,comprising: a table comprising a plurality of cradles arranged in anarray, wherein each cradle is configured to receive an egg in agenerally vertical orientation and to cause the egg to move to agenerally horizontal orientation; an egg transfer device operablyassociated with the table, comprising: a frame; an array of manifoldblocks movably supported by the frame, wherein each manifold blockcomprises an end portion and an internal passageway that terminates at anozzle extending from the end portion, and wherein the array isexpandable and contractible such that eggs can be lifted from and placedwithin egg flats of different sizes and/or array configurations; and aplurality of flexible cups, each secured to a respective manifold blocknozzle and each in fluid communication with an internal passageway of arespective manifold block, wherein each flexible cup is configured toengage and retain an egg in seated relation therewith when vacuum isprovided within the flexible cup via a respective internal passagewayand wherein each flexible cup is configured to release a respective eggwhen vacuum within the respective internal passageway is destroyed;wherein the egg transfer device is configured to simultaneously lift aplurality of generally vertically oriented eggs from an egg flat andplace the plurality of eggs within respective cradles, and wherein theegg transfer device is configured to simultaneously lift and remove theplurality of eggs from the plurality of cradles; and  a plurality ofsample heads operably associated with the table, wherein each samplehead is configured to extract material from a respective egg within arespective cradle and to deposit the extracted material within arespective sample receptacle in a sample template, wherein each samplehead comprises: an elongated housing having opposite first and secondends and an elongated passageway extending therebetween; and anelongated needle disposed within the elongated passageway and movablebetween a retracted position and first and second extended positions,wherein the needle comprises a tip, wherein the tip of the needle iscontained within the passageway when the needle is in the retractedposition, wherein the tip of the needle extends from the housing firstend a first distance when the needle is in the first extended position,wherein the tip of the needle extends from the housing first end asecond distance greater than the first distance when the needle is inthe second extended position, wherein the needle is configured toextract material from an egg when in the first extended position, andwherein the needle is configured to dispense material extracted from anegg into a sample receptacle when in the second extended position. 55.The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising a plurality of orientationmembers, wherein each orientation member is operably associated with arespective cradle, and wherein each orientation member is configured tourge an egg within a respective cradle from a generally horizontalorientation to a generally vertical orientation.
 56. The apparatus ofclaim 54, further comprising a classifier that is configured to identifylive eggs among a plurality of eggs.
 57. The apparatus of claim 56,wherein the classifier comprises an egg candling device.
 58. Theapparatus of claim 54, further comprising a sanitizer that is configuredto apply sanitizing fluid to each sample head after each sample head hasdeposited material extracted from an egg into a respective samplereceptacle.
 59. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising aprocessor that is configured to create and store an association betweenmaterial deposited within a sample receptacle with an egg from which thematerial was extracted from.
 60. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein theegg transfer device is operably associated with the classifier and isconfigured to simultaneously lift only eggs identified as live eggs froman egg flat.
 61. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the sample heads areoperably associated with the classifier and are configured to onlyextract material from eggs identified as live eggs.
 62. The apparatus ofclaim 54, further comprising an egg flat transport system positionedadjacent to the table that transports flats of eggs to the egg transferdevice.
 63. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising an egg flattransport system positioned adjacent to the table that transports flatsof eggs from the egg transfer device.
 64. The apparatus of claim 54,further comprising a sample template transport system positionedadjacent to the table and operably associated with the plurality ofsample heads that transports sample templates to and from the pluralityof sample heads.
 65. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising anegg cradle transport system operably associated with the table thatmoves the array of cradles relative to the plurality of sample heads.66. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising a locking plateoperably associated with the plurality of sample heads, wherein thelocking plate is configured to releasably restrain each elongatedhousing from movement when the needle is extended from the housing firstend to the first extended position.
 67. The apparatus of claim 54,wherein the plurality of sample heads comprises first and second sets ofsample heads, wherein sample heads in the first set are configured toextract material from eggs within a plurality of cradles, and whereinsample heads in the second set are configured to deposit previouslyextracted material within respective sample receptacles.
 68. Anapparatus for extracting material from an egg, comprising: an elongatedhousing having opposite first and second ends and an elongatedpassageway extending therebetween, wherein the elongated housing firstend is configured to contact a portion of a shell of an egg; and anelongated needle movably disposed within the elongated passageway andmovable between a retracted position and first and second extendedpositions, wherein the needle comprises a fluid passageway and a tip,wherein the tip of the needle is contained within the passageway whenthe needle is in the retracted position, wherein the tip of the needleextends from the housing first end a first distance when the needle isin the first extended position, and wherein the tip of the needleextends from the housing first end a second distance greater than thefirst distance when the needle is in the second extended position;wherein the elongated needle is configured to punch through the shell ofan egg when the elongated housing first end is in contact with the eggshell and the elongated needle is moved to the first extended position,wherein the elongated needle is configured to extract material from theegg into the fluid passageway when in the first extended position, andwherein the needle is configured to dispense extracted material in thefluid passageway into a sample receptacle when in the second extendedposition.
 69. The apparatus of claim 68, further comprising a biasingmember disposed within the elongated housing, wherein the biasing memberexerts a force on the elongated needle to urge the elongated needle fromthe second extended position to the first extended position.
 70. Theapparatus of claim 69, further comprising an actuator that is configuredto move the elongated needle between the retracted position and firstand second extended positions, wherein the actuator is configured toexert first and second actuation force on the elongated needle, whereinthe first actuation force is sufficient to move the elongated needle tothe first extended position, and wherein the second actuation force issufficient to move the elongated needle to the second extended position.71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the actuator comprises an airactuator that is in fluid communication with a compressed air system.72. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the elongated needle tipcomprises a blunt configuration.
 73. The apparatus of claim 68, whereinthe elongated needle tip comprises a beveled configuration.
 74. Anapparatus for assaying material extracted from a plurality of eggs toidentify ones of the eggs having a characteristic, wherein materialextracted from each egg is contained within a respective samplereceptacle of a template, wherein the apparatus comprises: a reagentdispenser that is configured to dispense a reagent into each of thereceptacles of a template, wherein the reagent is configured tochemically react with the egg material in each receptacle to produce anindication of a characteristic of a respective egg; and a detector thatis configured to detect an indication of an egg characteristic in eachof the receptacles.
 75. The apparatus of claim 74, wherein the detectorcomprises a CCD camera.
 76. The apparatus of claim 74, furthercomprising a sterilizer that is configured to destroy the reagent. 77.The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the sterilizer comprises asterilizing agent dispenser that is configured to dispense a sterilizingagent into each of the receptacles to destroy the reagent.
 78. Theapparatus of claim 76, wherein the sterilizer comprises a heatgenerating source.
 79. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the sterilizercomprises a radiation generating source.
 80. The apparatus of claim 74,wherein the reagent dispenser comprises a biosensor dispenser.
 81. Anapparatus for assaying material extracted from a plurality of eggs toidentify ones of the eggs having a characteristic, wherein materialextracted from each egg is contained within a respective samplereceptacle of a template, wherein the apparatus comprises: anenvironmentally-controlled chamber that maintains temperature and/orhumidity within one or more respective predetermined ranges; a conveyorsystem that is configured to convey a plurality of sample receptacletemplates through the chamber; a biosensor dispenser disposed within thechamber and operably associated with the conveyor system, wherein thebiosensor dispenser is configured to dispense a biosensor into each ofthe receptacles of a template conveyed via the conveyor system; a colorsubstrate dispenser disposed within the chamber and operably associatedwith the conveyor system, wherein the color substrate dispenser isconfigured to dispense a color substrate into each of the receptacles ofa template conveyed via the conveyor system, wherein the biosensor andcolor substrate are configured to chemically react with egg material ineach respective receptacle so as to produce an indication of a presenceof a characteristic of a respective egg; and a detector operablyassociated with the conveyor system that is configured to scan eachsample receptacle in a template conveyed via the conveyor system and todetect an indication of the presence of a characteristic.
 82. Theapparatus of claim 81, wherein the detector comprises a CCD camera thatis configured to detect a change in color of material in each samplereceptacle of a template.
 83. The apparatus of claim 81, furthercomprising a sterilizer that is configured to destroy the biosensor. 84.The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the sterilizer comprises asterilizing agent dispenser that is configured to dispense a sterilizingagent into each of the receptacles to destroy the biosensor.
 85. Theapparatus of claim 83, wherein the sterilizer comprises a heatgenerating source.
 86. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the sterilizercomprises a radiation generating source.
 87. The apparatus of claim 81,wherein the biosensor dispenser comprises a yeast dispenser.
 88. Anapparatus for assaying material extracted from a plurality of eggs toidentify gender of the eggs, wherein material extracted from each egg iscontained within a respective sample receptacle of a template, whereinthe apparatus comprises: an environmentally-controlled chamber thatmaintains temperature and/or humidity within one or more respectivepredetermined ranges; a conveyor system that is configured to convey aplurality of sample receptacle templates through the chamber; a yeastdispenser disposed within the chamber and operably associated with theconveyor system, wherein the yeast dispenser is configured to dispense ayeast into each of the receptacles of a template conveyed via theconveyor system; a color substrate dispenser disposed within the chamberand operably associated with the conveyor system, wherein the colorsubstrate dispenser is configured to dispense a color substrate intoeach of the receptacles of a template conveyed via the conveyor system,wherein the yeast and color substrate are configured to chemically reactwith egg material in each respective receptacle so as to produce a colorthat indicates gender of a respective egg; and a CCD camera operablyassociated with the conveyor system that is configured to scan eachsample receptacle in a template conveyed via the conveyor system and todetect a color.
 89. The apparatus of claim 88, further comprising asterilizer that is configured to destroy the yeast.
 90. The apparatus ofclaim 89, wherein the sterilizer comprises a sterilizing agent dispenserthat is configured to dispense a sterilizing agent into each of thereceptacles to destroy the yeast.
 91. An apparatus for selectivelyprocessing eggs, comprising: a conveyor configured to convey eggcarriers; a plurality of injection delivery devices operably associatedwith the conveyor, wherein the injection delivery devices are configuredto inject a substance into eggs identified among a plurality of eggs inan egg carrier conveyed by the conveyor as having a characteristic; andan egg removal device operably associated with the conveyor, wherein theegg removal device is configured to remove eggs identified as having acharacteristic from an egg carrier conveyed by the conveyor.
 92. Theapparatus of claim 91, wherein the egg removal device comprises: anarray of manifold blocks, wherein each manifold block comprises an endportion and an internal passageway that terminates at a nozzle extendingfrom the end portion; and a plurality of flexible cups, each secured toa respective manifold block nozzle and each in fluid communication withan internal passageway of a respective manifold block, wherein eachflexible cup is configured to engage and retain an egg in seatedrelation therewith when vacuum is provided within the flexible cup via arespective internal passageway and wherein each flexible cup isconfigured to release a respective egg when vacuum within the respectiveinternal passageway is destroyed.
 93. The apparatus of claim 91, whereinthe characteristic is gender, and wherein each injection delivery deviceis configured to inject a substance into eggs identified as having thesame gender.
 94. The apparatus of claim 91, wherein the characteristicis gender, and wherein the egg removal device is configured to removeeggs from an egg carrier identified as having the same gender.
 95. Anapparatus for selectively processing eggs, comprising: a conveyorconfigured to convey egg carriers; a first set of injection deliverydevices operably associated with the conveyor, wherein the injectiondelivery devices in the first set are configured to inject a substanceinto eggs identified as having a first gender in an egg carrier conveyedby the conveyor; a second set of injection delivery devices operablyassociated with the conveyor and adjacent the first set of injectiondelivery devices, wherein the injection delivery devices in the secondset are configured to inject a substance into eggs identified as havinga second gender in the egg carrier; and an egg removal device operablyassociated with the conveyor, wherein the egg removal device isconfigured to remove eggs identified as having a first gender from theegg carrier into a first receptacle, and to remove eggs identified ashaving a second gender from the egg carrier into a second receptacle.96. The apparatus of claim 95, wherein the egg removal device comprises:an array of manifold blocks, wherein each manifold block comprises anend portion and an internal passageway that terminates at a nozzleextending from the end portion; and a plurality of flexible cups, eachsecured to a respective manifold block nozzle and each in fluidcommunication with an internal passageway of a respective manifoldblock, wherein each flexible cup is configured to engage and retain anegg in seated relation therewith when vacuum is provided within theflexible cup via a respective internal passageway and wherein eachflexible cup is configured to release a respective egg when vacuumwithin the respective internal passageway is destroyed.
 97. An apparatusfor selectively processing eggs, comprising: a conveyor configured toconvey egg carriers containing a plurality of eggs; an egg removaldevice operably associated with the conveyor that segregates male eggsfrom female eggs; a first set of injection delivery devices that areconfigured to inject a substance into male eggs; and a second set ofinjection delivery devices that are configured to inject a substanceinto female eggs.
 98. The apparatus of claim 97, wherein the egg removaldevice comprises: an array of manifold blocks, wherein each manifoldblock comprises an end portion and an internal passageway thatterminates at a nozzle extending from the end portion; and a pluralityof flexible cups, each secured to a respective manifold block nozzle andeach in fluid communication with an internal passageway of a respectivemanifold block, wherein each flexible cup is configured to engage andretain an egg in seated relation therewith when vacuum is providedwithin the flexible cup via a respective internal passageway and whereineach flexible cup is configured to release a respective egg when vacuumwithin the respective internal passageway is destroyed.
 99. An eggprocessing system, comprising: an apparatus for extracting material froma plurality of eggs; an apparatus for assaying material extracted fromthe eggs to identify eggs having a characteristic; and an apparatus forselectively processing eggs identified as having the characteristic.100. The system of claim 99, wherein the apparatus for extractingmaterial from a plurality of eggs comprises: a table comprising aplurality of cradles arranged in an array, wherein each cradle isconfigured to receive an egg in a generally vertical orientation and tocause the egg to move to a generally horizontal orientation; an eggtransfer device operably associated with the table, wherein the eggtransfer device is configured to simultaneously lift a plurality ofgenerally vertically oriented eggs from an egg flat and place theplurality of eggs within respective cradles, and wherein the eggtransfer device is configured to simultaneously lift and remove theplurality of eggs from the plurality of cradles; and a plurality ofsample heads operably associated with the table, each of which isconfigured to extract material from a respective egg within a respectivecradle and to deposit the extracted material within a respective samplereceptacle in a sample template.
 101. The system of claim 100, furthercomprising a plurality of orientation members, wherein each orientationmember is operably associated with a respective cradle, and wherein eachorientation member is configured to urge an egg within a respectivecradle from a generally horizontal orientation to a generally verticalorientation.
 102. The system of claim 100, further comprising aclassifier that is configured to identify live eggs among a plurality ofeggs.
 103. The system of claim 102, wherein the classifier comprises anegg candling device.
 104. The system of claim 100, further comprising asanitizer that is configured to apply sanitizing fluid to each samplehead after each sample head has deposited material extracted from an egginto a respective sample receptacle.
 105. The system of claim 100,further comprising a processor that is configured to create and store anassociation between material deposited within a sample receptacle withan egg from which the material was extracted from.
 106. The system ofclaim 102, wherein the egg transfer device is operably associated withthe classifier and is configured to simultaneously lift only eggsidentified as live eggs from an egg flat.
 107. The system of claim 102,wherein the sample heads are operably associated with the classifier andare configured to only extract material from eggs identified as liveeggs.
 108. The system of claim 100, wherein the egg transfer devicecomprises: a frame; an array of manifold blocks movably supported by theframe, wherein each manifold block comprises an end portion and aninternal passageway that terminates at a nozzle extending from the endportion, and wherein the array is expandable and contractible such thateggs can be lifted from and placed within egg flats of different sizesand/or array configurations; and a plurality of flexible cups, eachsecured to a respective manifold block nozzle and each in fluidcommunication with an internal passageway of a respective manifoldblock, wherein each flexible cup is configured to engage and retain anegg in seated relation therewith when vacuum is provided within theflexible cup via a respective internal passageway and wherein eachflexible cup is configured to release a respective egg when vacuumwithin the respective internal passageway is destroyed.
 109. The systemof claim 100, wherein each sample head comprises: an elongated housinghaving opposite first and second ends and an elongated passagewayextending therebetween; and an elongated needle disposed within theelongated passageway and movable between a retracted position and firstand second extended positions, wherein the needle comprises a tip,wherein the tip of the needle 10 is contained within the passageway whenthe needle is in the retracted position, wherein the tip of the needleextends from the housing first end a first distance when the needle isin the first extended position, wherein the tip of the needle extendsfrom the housing first end a second distance greater than the firstdistance when the needle is in the second extended position, wherein theneedle is configured to extract material from an egg when in the firstextended position, and wherein the needle is configured to dispensematerial extracted from an egg into a sample receptacle when in thesecond extended position.
 110. The system of claim 100, furthercomprising an egg flat transport system positioned adjacent to the tablethat transports flats of eggs to the egg transfer device.
 111. Thesystem of claim 100, further comprising an egg flat transport systempositioned adjacent to the table that transports flats of eggs from theegg transfer device.
 112. The system of claim 100, further comprising asample template transport system positioned adjacent to the table andoperably associated with the plurality of sample heads that transportssample s templates to and from the plurality of sample heads.
 113. Thesystem of claim 100, further comprising an egg cradle transport systemoperably associated with the table that moves the array of cradlesrelative to the plurality of sample heads.
 114. The system of claim 109,further comprising a locking plate operably associated with theplurality of sample heads, wherein the locking plate is configured toreleasably restrain each elongated housing from movement when the needleis extended from the housing first end to the first extended position.115. The system of claim 99, wherein the apparatus for assaying materialextracted from the eggs comprises: a reagent dispenser that isconfigured to dispense a reagent into each of the receptacles of atemplate, wherein the reagent is configured to chemically react with theegg material in each receptacle to produce an indication of acharacteristic of a respective egg; and a detector that is configured todetect an indication of an egg characteristic in each of thereceptacles.
 116. The system of claim 115, wherein the detectorcomprises a CCD camera.
 117. The system of claim 115, further comprisinga sterilizer that is configured to destroy the reagent.
 118. The systemof claim 117, wherein the sterilizer comprises a sterilizing agentdispenser that is configured to dispense a sterilizing agent into eachof the receptacles to destroy the reagent.
 119. The system of claim 117,wherein the sterilizer comprises a heat generating source.
 120. Thesystem of claim 117, wherein the sterilizer comprises a radiationgenerating source.
 121. The system of claim 115, wherein the reagentdispenser comprises a biosensor dispenser.
 122. The system of claim 99,wherein the apparatus for selectively processing eggs, comprises: aconveyor configured to convey egg carriers; a plurality of injectiondelivery devices operably associated with the conveyor, wherein theinjection delivery devices are configured to inject a substance intoeggs identified among a plurality of eggs in an egg carrier conveyed bythe conveyor as having a characteristic; and an egg removal deviceoperably associated with the conveyor, wherein the egg removal device isconfigured to remove eggs identified as having a characteristic from anegg carrier conveyed by the conveyor.
 123. The system of claim 122,wherein the egg removal device comprises: an array of manifold blocks,wherein each manifold block comprises an end portion and an internalpassageway that terminates at a nozzle extending from the end portion;and a plurality of flexible cups, each secured to a respective manifoldblock nozzle and each in fluid communication with an internal passagewayof a respective manifold block, wherein each flexible cup is configuredto engage and retain an egg in seated relation therewith when vacuum isprovided within the flexible cup via a respective internal passagewayand wherein each flexible cup is configured to release a respective eggwhen vacuum within the respective internal passageway is destroyed. 124.The system of claim 122, wherein the characteristic is gender, andwherein each injection delivery device is configured to inject asubstance into eggs identified as having the same gender.
 125. Thesystem of claim 122, wherein the characteristic is gender, and whereinthe egg removal device is configured to remove eggs from an egg carrieridentified as having the same gender.
 126. The system of claim 99,wherein the apparatus for selectively processing eggs, comprises: aconveyor configured to convey egg carriers; a first set of injectiondelivery devices operably associated with the conveyor, wherein theinjection delivery devices in the first set are configured to inject asubstance into eggs identified as having a first gender in an eggcarrier conveyed by the conveyor; a second set of injection deliverydevices operably associated with the conveyor and adjacent the first setof injection delivery devices, wherein the injection delivery devices inthe second set are configured to inject a substance into eggs identifiedas having a second gender in the egg carrier; and an egg removal deviceoperably associated with the conveyor, wherein the egg removal device isconfigured to remove eggs identified as having a first gender from theegg carrier into a first receptacle, and to remove eggs identified ashaving a second gender from the egg carrier into a second receptacle.127. The system of claim 126, wherein the egg removal device comprises:an array of manifold blocks, wherein each manifold block comprises anend portion and an internal passageway that terminates at a nozzleextending from the end portion; and a plurality of flexible cups, eachsecured to a respective manifold block nozzle and each in fluidcommunication with an internal passageway of a respective manifoldblock, wherein each flexible cup is configured to engage and retain anegg in seated relation therewith when vacuum is provided within theflexible cup via a respective internal passageway and wherein eachflexible cup is configured to release a respective egg when vacuumwithin the respective internal passageway is destroyed.
 128. The systemof claim 99, wherein the apparatus for selectively processing eggs,comprises: a conveyor configured to convey egg carriers containing aplurality of eggs; an egg removal device operably associated with theconveyor that segregates male eggs from female eggs; a first set ofinjection delivery devices that are configured to inject a substanceinto male eggs; and a second set of injection delivery devices that areconfigured to inject a substance into female eggs.
 129. The system ofclaim 128, wherein the egg removal device comprises: an array ofmanifold blocks, wherein each manifold block comprises an end portionand an internal passageway that terminates at a nozzle extending fromthe end portion; and a plurality of flexible cups, each secured to arespective manifold block nozzle and each in fluid communication with aninternal passageway of a respective manifold block, wherein eachflexible cup is configured to engage and retain an egg in seatedrelation therewith when vacuum is provided within the flexible cup via arespective internal passageway and wherein each flexible cup isconfigured to release a respective egg when vacuum within the respectiveinternal passageway is destroyed.
 130. An egg processing system,comprising: an apparatus for extracting allantoic fluid from a pluralityof eggs; an apparatus for assaying allantoic fluid extracted from theeggs to identify gender of the eggs; and an apparatus for selectivelyprocessing the eggs based on identified gender.
 131. The system of claim130, wherein the apparatus for extracting allantoic fluid from aplurality of eggs comprises: a table comprising a plurality of cradlesarranged in an array, wherein each cradle is configured to receive anegg in a generally vertical orientation and to cause the egg to move toa generally horizontal orientation; an egg transfer device operablyassociated with the table, wherein the egg transfer device is configuredto simultaneously lift a plurality of generally vertically oriented eggsfrom an egg flat and place the plurality of eggs within respectivecradles, and wherein the egg transfer device is configured tosimultaneously lift and remove the plurality of eggs from the pluralityof cradles; and a plurality of sample heads operably associated with thetable, each of which is configured to extract allantoic fluid from arespective egg within a respective cradle and to deposit the extractedallantoic fluid within a respective sample receptacle in a sampletemplate.
 132. The system of claim 131, further comprising a pluralityof orientation members, wherein each orientation member is operablyassociated with a respective cradle, and wherein each orientation memberis configured to urge an egg within a respective cradle from a generallyhorizontal orientation to a generally vertical orientation.
 133. Thesystem of claim 131, further comprising a classifier that is configuredto identify live eggs among a plurality of eggs.
 134. The system ofclaim 133, wherein the classifier comprises an egg candling device. 135.The system of claim 131, further comprising a sanitizer that isconfigured to apply sanitizing fluid to each sample head after eachsample head has deposited allantoic fluid extracted from an egg into arespective sample receptacle.
 136. The system of claim 131, furthercomprising a processor that is configured to create and store anassociation between allantoic fluid deposited within a sample receptaclewith an egg from which the allantoic fluid was extracted from.
 137. Thesystem of claim 133, wherein the egg transfer device is operablyassociated with the classifier and is configured to simultaneously liftonly eggs identified as live eggs from an egg flat.
 138. The system ofclaim 133, wherein the sample heads are operably associated with theclassifier and are configured to only extract allantoic fluid from eggsidentified as live eggs.
 139. The system of claim 131, wherein the eggtransfer device comprises: a frame; an array of manifold blocks movablysupported by the frame, wherein each manifold block comprises an endportion and an internal passageway that terminates at a nozzle extendingfrom the end portion, and wherein the array is expandable andcontractible such that eggs can be lifted from and placed within eggflats of different sizes and/or array configurations; and a plurality offlexible cups, each secured to a respective manifold block nozzle andeach in fluid communication with an internal passageway of a respectivemanifold block, wherein each flexible cup is configured to engage andretain an egg in seated relation therewith when vacuum is providedwithin the flexible cup via a respective internal passageway and whereineach flexible cup is configured to release a respective egg when vacuumwithin the respective internal passageway is destroyed.
 140. The systemof claim 131, wherein each sample head comprises: an elongated housinghaving opposite first and second ends and an elongated passagewayextending therebetween; and an elongated needle disposed within theelongated passageway and movable between a retracted position and firstand second extended positions, wherein the needle comprises a tip,wherein the tip of the needle is contained within the passageway whenthe needle is in the retracted position, wherein the tip of the needleextends from the housing first end a first distance when the needle isin the first extended position, wherein the tip of the needle extendsfrom the housing first end a second distance greater than the firstdistance when the needle is in the second extended position, wherein theneedle is configured to extract allantoic fluid from an egg when in thefirst extended position, and wherein the needle is configured todispense allantoic fluid extracted from an egg into a sample receptaclewhen in the second extended position.
 141. The system of claim 131,further comprising an egg flat transport system positioned adjacent tothe table that transports flats of eggs to the egg transfer device. 142.The system of claim 131, further comprising an egg flat transport systempositioned adjacent to the table that transports flats of eggs from theegg transfer device.
 143. The system of claim 131, further comprising asample template transport system positioned adjacent to the table andoperably associated with the plurality of sample heads that transportssample templates to and from the plurality of sample heads.
 144. Thesystem of claim 131, further comprising an egg cradle transport systemoperably associated with the table that moves the array of cradlesrelative to the plurality of sample heads.
 145. The system of claim 140,further comprising a locking plate operably associated with theplurality of sample heads, wherein the locking plate is configured toreleasably restrain each elongated housing from movement when the needleis extended from the housing first end to the first extended position.146. The system of claim 130, wherein the apparatus for assayingallantoic fluid extracted from a plurality of eggs comprises: anenvironmentally-controlled chamber that maintains temperature and/orhumidity within one or more respective predetermined ranges; a conveyorsystem that is configured to convey a plurality of sample receptacletemplates through the chamber; a biosensor dispenser disposed within thechamber and operably associated with the conveyor system, wherein thebiosensor dispenser is configured to dispense a biosensor into each ofthe receptacles of a template conveyed via the conveyor system; a colorsubstrate dispenser disposed within the chamber and operably associatedwith the conveyor system, wherein the color substrate dispenser isconfigured to dispense a color substrate into each of the receptacles ofa template conveyed via the conveyor system, wherein the biosensor andcolor substrate are configured to chemically react with allantoic fluidin each respective receptacle so as to produce an indication of genderof a respective egg; and a detector operably associated with theconveyor system that is configured to scan each sample receptacle in atemplate conveyed via the conveyor system and to detect an indication ofgender.
 147. The system of claim 146, wherein the detector comprises aCCD camera that is configured to detect a change in color of material ineach sample receptacle of a template.
 148. The system of claim 146,further comprising a sterilizer that is configured to destroy thebiosensor.
 149. The system of claim 148, wherein the sterilizercomprises a sterilizing agent dispenser that is configured to dispense asterilizing agent into each of the receptacles to destroy the biosensor.150. The system of claim 148, wherein the sterilizer comprises a heatgenerating source.
 151. The system of claim 148, wherein the sterilizercomprises a radiation generating source.
 152. The system of claim 146,wherein the biosensor dispenser comprises a yeast dispenser.
 153. Thesystem of claim 130, wherein the apparatus for assaying allantoic fluidextracted from a plurality of eggs comprises: anenvironmentally-controlled chamber that maintains temperature and/orhumidity within one or more respective predetermined ranges; a conveyorsystem that is configured to convey a plurality of sample receptacletemplates through the chamber; a yeast dispenser disposed within thechamber and operably associated with the conveyor system, wherein theyeast dispenser is configured to dispense a yeast into each of thereceptacles of a template conveyed via the conveyor system; a colorsubstrate dispenser disposed within the chamber and operably associatedwith the conveyor system, wherein the color substrate dispenser isconfigured to dispense a color substrate into each of the receptacles ofa template conveyed via the conveyor system, wherein the yeast and colorsubstrate are configured to chemically react with egg material in eachrespective receptacle so as to produce a color that indicates gender ofa respective egg; and a CCD camera operably associated with the conveyorsystem that is configured to scan each sample receptacle in a templateconveyed via the conveyor system and to detect a color.
 154. The systemof claim 153, further comprising a sterilizer that is configured todestroy the yeast.
 155. The system of claim 154, wherein the sterilizercomprises a sterilizing agent dispenser that is configured to dispense asterilizing agent into each of the receptacles to destroy the yeast.156. The system of claim 130, wherein the apparatus for selectivelyprocessing eggs, comprises: a conveyor configured to convey eggcarriers; a plurality of injection delivery devices operably associatedwith the conveyor, wherein the injection delivery devices are configuredto inject a substance into eggs identified among a plurality of eggs inan egg carrier conveyed by the conveyor as having a characteristic; andan egg removal device operably associated with the conveyor, wherein theegg removal device is configured to remove eggs identified as having acharacteristic from an egg carrier conveyed by the conveyor.
 157. Thesystem of claim 130, wherein the apparatus for selectively processingeggs, comprises: a conveyor configured to convey egg carriers; a firstset of injection delivery devices operably associated with the conveyor,wherein the injection delivery devices in the first set are configuredto inject a substance into eggs identified as having a first gender inan egg carrier conveyed by the conveyor; a second set of injectiondelivery devices operably associated with the conveyor and adjacent thefirst set of injection delivery devices, wherein the injection deliverydevices in the second set are configured to inject a substance into eggsidentified as having a second gender in the egg carrier; and an eggremoval device operably associated with the conveyor, wherein the eggremoval device is configured to remove eggs identified as having a firstgender from the egg carrier into a first receptacle, and to remove eggsidentified as having a second gender from the egg carrier into a secondreceptacle.
 158. The system of claim 130, wherein the apparatus forselectively processing eggs, comprises: a conveyor configured to conveyegg carriers containing a plurality of eggs; an egg removal deviceoperably associated with the conveyor that segregates male eggs fromfemale eggs; a first set of injection delivery devices that areconfigured to inject a substance into male eggs; and a second set ofinjection delivery devices that are configured to inject a substanceinto female eggs.
 159. An egg processing system, comprising: anapparatus for extracting allantoic fluid from a plurality of eggs,comprising: a table comprising a plurality of cradles arranged in anarray, wherein each cradle is configured to receive an egg in agenerally vertical orientation and to cause the egg to move to agenerally horizontal orientation; an egg transfer device operablyassociated with the table, wherein the egg transfer device is configuredto simultaneously lift a plurality of generally vertically oriented eggsfrom an egg flat and place the plurality of eggs within respectivecradles, and wherein the egg transfer device is configured tosimultaneously lift and remove the plurality of eggs from the pluralityof cradles; and a plurality of sample heads operably associated with thetable, each of which is configured to extract allantoic fluid from arespective egg within a respective cradle and to deposit the extractedallantoic fluid within a respective sample receptacle in a sampletemplate;  an apparatus for assaying allantoic fluid extracted from theeggs to identify gender of the eggs, comprising: a chamber; a conveyorsystem that is configured to convey a plurality of sample receptacletemplates through the chamber; a biosensor dispenser disposed within thechamber and operably associated with the conveyor system, wherein thebiosensor dispenser is configured to dispense a biosensor into each ofthe receptacles of a template conveyed via the conveyor system; a colorsubstrate dispenser disposed within the chamber and operably associatedwith the conveyor system, wherein the color substrate dispenser isconfigured to dispense a color substrate into each of the receptacles ofa template conveyed via the conveyor system, wherein the biosensor andcolor substrate are configured to chemically react with allantoic fluidin each respective receptacle so as to produce an indication of genderof a respective egg; and a detector operably associated with theconveyor system that is configured to scan each sample receptacle in atemplate conveyed via the conveyor system and to detect an indication ofgender; and an apparatus for selectively processing the eggs based onidentified gender.
 160. The system of claim 159, further comprising aplurality of orientation members, wherein each orientation member isoperably associated with a respective cradle, and wherein eachorientation member is configured to urge an egg within a respectivecradle from a generally horizontal orientation to a generally verticalorientation.
 161. The system of claim 159, further comprising aclassifier that is configured to identify live eggs among a plurality ofeggs.
 162. The system of claim 161, wherein the classifier comprises anegg candling device.
 163. The system of claim 159, further comprising asanitizer that is configured to apply sanitizing fluid to each samplehead after each sample head has deposited allantoic fluid extracted froman egg into a respective sample receptacle.
 164. The system of claim159, further comprising a processor that is configured to create andstore an association between allantoic fluid deposited within a samplereceptacle with an egg from which the allantoic fluid was extractedfrom.
 165. The system of claim 161, wherein the egg transfer device isoperably associated with the classifier and is configured tosimultaneously lift only eggs identified as live eggs from an egg flat.166. The system of claim 161, wherein the sample heads are operablyassociated with the classifier and are configured to only extractallantoic fluid from eggs identified as live eggs.
 167. The system ofclaim 159, wherein the egg transfer device comprises: a frame; an arrayof manifold blocks movably supported by the frame, wherein each manifoldblock comprises an end portion and an internal passageway thatterminates at a nozzle extending from the end portion, and wherein thearray is expandable and contractible such that eggs can be lifted fromand placed within egg flats of different sizes and/or arrayconfigurations; and a plurality of flexible cups, each secured to arespective manifold block nozzle and each in fluid communication with aninternal passageway of a respective manifold block, wherein eachflexible cup is configured to engage and retain an egg in seatedrelation therewith when vacuum is provided within the flexible cup via arespective internal passageway and wherein each flexible cup isconfigured to release a respective egg when vacuum within the respectiveinternal passageway is destroyed.
 168. The system of claim 159, whereineach sample head comprises: an elongated housing having opposite firstand second ends and an elongated passageway extending therebetween; andan elongated needle disposed within the elongated passageway and movablebetween a retracted position and first and second extended positions,wherein the needle comprises a tip, wherein the tip of the needle iscontained within the passageway when the needle is in the retractedposition, wherein the tip of the needle extends from the housing firstend a first distance when the needle is in the first extended position,wherein the tip of the needle extends from the housing first end asecond distance greater than the first distance when the needle is inthe second extended position, wherein the needle is configured toextract allantoic fluid from an egg when in the first extended position,and wherein the needle is configured to dispense allantoic fluidextracted from an egg into a sample receptacle when in the secondextended position.
 169. The system of claim 159, further comprising anegg flat transport system positioned adjacent to the table thattransports flats of eggs to the egg transfer device.
 170. The system ofclaim 159, further comprising an egg flat transport system positionedadjacent to the table that transports flats of eggs from the eggtransfer device.
 171. The system of claim 159, further comprising asample template transport system positioned adjacent to the table andoperably associated with the plurality of sample heads that transportssample templates to and from the plurality of sample heads.
 172. Thesystem of claim 159, further comprising an egg cradle transport systemoperably associated with the table that moves the array of cradlesrelative to the plurality of sample heads.
 173. The system of claim 159,further comprising a locking plate operably associated with theplurality of sample heads, wherein the locking plate is configured toreleasably restrain each elongated housing from movement when the needleis extended from the housing first end to the first extended position.174. The system of claim 159, wherein the detector comprises a CCDcamera that is configured to detect a change in color of material ineach sample receptacle of a template.
 175. The system of claim 159,further comprising a sterilizer that is configured to destroy thebiosensor.
 176. The system of claim 159, wherein the biosensor dispensercomprises a yeast dispenser.
 177. The system of claim 159, wherein thechamber comprises an environmentally-controlled chamber whereintemperature and/or humidity are maintained within one or more respectivepredetermined ranges.
 178. The system of claim 159, wherein theapparatus for selectively processing eggs, comprises: a conveyorconfigured to convey egg carriers; a plurality of injection deliverydevices operably associated with the conveyor, wherein the injectiondelivery devices are configured to inject a substance into eggsidentified among a plurality of eggs in an egg carrier conveyed by theconveyor as having a characteristic; and an egg removal device operablyassociated with the conveyor, wherein the egg removal device isconfigured to remove eggs identified as having a characteristic from anegg carrier conveyed by the conveyor.
 179. The system of claim 159,wherein the apparatus for selectively processing eggs, comprises: aconveyor configured to convey egg carriers; a first set of injectiondelivery devices operably associated with the conveyor, wherein theinjection delivery devices in the first set are configured to inject asubstance into eggs identified as having a first gender in an eggcarrier conveyed by the conveyor; a second set of injection deliverydevices operably associated with the conveyor and adjacent the first setof injection delivery devices, wherein the injection delivery devices inthe second set are configured to inject a substance into eggs identifiedas having a second gender in the egg carrier; and an egg removal deviceoperably associated with the conveyor, wherein the egg removal device isconfigured to remove eggs identified as having a first gender from theegg carrier into a first receptacle, and to remove eggs identified ashaving a second gender from the egg carrier into a second receptacle.180. The system of claim 159, wherein the apparatus for selectivelyprocessing eggs, comprises: a conveyor configured to convey egg carrierscontaining a plurality of eggs; an egg removal device operablyassociated with the conveyor that segregates male eggs from female eggs;a first set of injection delivery devices that are configured to injecta substance into male eggs; and a second set of injection deliverydevices that are configured to inject a substance into female eggs.